France’s Macron Beats Back the Rail Union

French President Emmanuel Macron flanked by Vice President Pence delivers remarks at the state luncheon at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2018. [State Department photo/ Public Domain]

Luke Baker reports at US News and World Report that France’s President Emmanuel Macron is fighting successfully to transform the country’s rail system. Baker writes (abridged):

Macron has all but won the war over the SNCF, delivering a powerful blow in his campaign to modernize France’s labor force and end a long economic malaise.

Public support for the strike has fallen, according to opinion polls, and nearly two-thirds of the public back Macron’s proposals to remove some of the SNCF employees’ benefits and cut the company’s debt, a poll by research group Elabe showed.

Commuters have found ways around the strike, using car-sharing apps, working from home or cycling to work when stoppages hit for two days every five. Fewer train drivers, signal workers and conductors are now taking part in the strike.

Macron’s party’s strong majority in parliament means he is well placed to win the National Assembly’s backing for a law enacting the reforms of the SNCF in a vote set for Wednesday.