SNMC Workers Called to End Strike

French political scene has put enormous pressure on workers of the debt-stricken ferry operator Societé Nationale Corse-Méditerranée (SNCM) who have been on strike since June 24.

 
The workers have been urged to end their strike and allow for the company’s restructuring, which many workers fear will mean severe job cutting.

“This situation cannot go on and there needs to be a court-ordered restructuring, because this company is sinking, and in fact the days of strike that accumulate are only putting it more into trouble,” Prime Minister Manuel Valls told TV station TF1.

The struggling company has accrued losses of 250 million euros over the past decade despite subsidies from the state.

Earlier this year, Baja Ferries, Mexican ferry company voiced intention to buy 66 percent stake in SNCM from Transdev. The company said that the talks to close the deal are underway and that a decision might be in before the end of the year.

As explained by Baja Ferries’ director, if acquired, the company would cover routes between Marseille, Corsica and north Africa.

[mappress]
World Maritime News Staff, July 10th, 2014