https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/world/europe/france-railways-strike.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fworld&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
French President’s Next Target: The Railroads. Strikes Loom.
In France, the railroad system is very important for public transportation and for the people who work on the railroad. For now, the railroad system is controlled by the government, which provide great benefits to railroad workers. Emmanuel Macron, France's president, is proposing to reduce the worker's benefits in order to contain costs and improving service, which shifts the industry to treat its workers more like private-sector employees. France's prime minister said that the government has no intention of privatizing the rail system, but the state-owned rail company must be updated if it is to hold its own with the coming competition from private companies.
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2 comments:
I think this is a really interesting article -- France obviously needs to do some reforming in the railroad sector to make it competitive once the market is opened by the EU in 2019. However, I think this article makes it clear that Macron understands the damage certain reforms would cause to society. For example, just last summer, a TGV route opened between Bordeaux and Paris, which meant that people who really valued a country lifestyle but a high-class job could live in Bordeux and commute into Paris (2 hours to travel 380 miles). While the French are accustomed to periodic strikes, I think it will be interesting to see how Macron ends up addressing the outdated railroad benefits without causing serious harm to business and other aspects of public society.
The railroads are definitely important to the transportation of a country. I believe that the decision that France made is right and meaningful. A good railroad system could improve the power of transportation and reduce the cost. As the technology developed, running a railroad does not need as many workers as before, and reducing the cost of labors for improving service is definitely acceptable, benefiting the society.
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