Transport Strike: Unions Open the Door to Dialogue

The delegations of the SUD Solidaires unions and the French Confederation of Christian Workers (CFTC) met in front of City Hall on Wednesday, July 22. Lignes d’Azur employees mobilized to obtain improvements regarding their salary conditions.

For the second time since July 15, the delegations of striking unions gathered. With flags unfurled, they made their way to City Hall by tram during rush hour. They lament the lack of action by the Lignes d’Azur Management regarding their numerous demands. Relations between the company’s stakeholders have deteriorated, causing significant repercussions on social dialogue.

The SUD Union delegate at Lignes d’Azur Management, Stéphane Champoussin, notes a lack of consideration from Nice’s mayor, Éric Ciotti, following these repeated strike movements. Thus, the mobilization on Wednesday, July 22 aims to reopen discussion with management. “On our side, dialogue remains open,” assured Jean Capriglione, the CFTC Union delegate.

The need to be heard

Positioned beneath the windows of City Hall, the CFTC and SUD Solidaires delegations are determined to make themselves noticed. These union associations have already refused to sign the mandatory annual negotiation agreement. This agreement does not seem favorable to employees regarding salary requirements. “Nice is a very expensive city, they only increased it by 1.5 percent while the inflation rate is 1.9. Employees don’t understand,” regretted Stéphane Champoussin.

Drivers and staff mobilized to request better compensation for their work. “Each year, we fall behind on the minimum wage and the recognition of our work with all the skills we’ve acquired throughout our careers is ultimately lost,” noted Jean Capriglione.

Members also described social unease within the company. The successive changes of human resources directors over the past twenty years are quite telling of the situation at Lignes d’Azur Management. “The company is sick, we may change faces, but the problems are not being addressed,” regretted the CFTC Union delegate.

The mobilized individuals have the feeling of not being heard. Employees explain that they have repeatedly sent written letters to the Management’s president, Bertrand Gasiglia. “I did not explicitly request a meeting but I informed him of serious problems and he did not seek to resolve them,” confided Jean Capriglione. The representatives of the mobilized delegations reminded us that it is up to the new president to invite all unions to meet them. Furthermore, Bertrand Gasiglia had confided about ten days ago to our colleagues at Nice-Matin his willingness to negotiate with employees: “I took over the management on May 18. I inherited the situation. We’re discussing. We’ll see what comes of it.“

The term “odd methods” mentioned by the Management’s president provoked a reaction from the CFTC Union delegate: “we are a highly unionized company, we identify problems and denounce them immediately.“

This social movement calls for changes to be made quickly. “If the situation remains unchanged, if we add up the number of employees registered in both strikes, we’re at over 50%. The network risks being paralyzed in the future,” indicates Stéphane Champoussin.

A promising reception

The first assistant mayor of Nice, Françoise Souliman, received representatives from both delegations. Upon leaving City Hall, the representatives seemed rather satisfied with this exchange. They affirmed that they were able to present their requests and have the feeling of finally being heard. The veil seems to have been lifted on the unease within the company. “I had the impression she wasn’t even aware of all these director changes,” reported Jean Capriglione, with a surprised expression.

Furthermore, he announced to the first assistant mayor his intention to take legal action against Lignes d’Azur Management on behalf of the CFTC for non-payment of overtime hours due to work time modulation: “this is union discrimination.” The representative confided that he had already, in the past, initiated such a procedure which he won at first instance.

Both union associations requested an audit to analyze any potential flaws in the company. “She committed to providing a response quickly for at least next week. We won’t give up,” declared Jean Capriglione.

Issues surrounding transportation in Nice were central during the 2026 municipal campaign. The Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis has moreover implemented a free fare system on the Lignes d’Azur network for certain categories of people, such as seniors (over 65, editor’s note) and certain professions such as hospital and prison staff. This mechanism will be valid starting September 1.

However, this measure will entail, by definition, a financial loss of nearly six million euros for the transport network. In the context of difficult negotiations regarding employee compensation, Lignes d’Azur Management will need to find a balance between the well-being of its staff and its ambition for solidarity.