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. Flags unfurled, they made their way to City Hall by tram during rush hour. They lament the lack of action from the Lignes d’Azur Authority regarding their numerous demands. Relations between company stakeholders have deteriorated, causing significant repercussions on social dialogue.

The SUD Union delegate of Lignes d’Azur Authority, 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 under the windows of City Hall, the CFTC and SUD Solidaires delegations are determined to be noticed. These union associations have already refused to sign the mandatory annual negotiation agreement. This agreement does not seem favorable to employees regarding salary demands. “Nice is a very expensive city, they only increased by 1.5 percent while the inflation rate is 1.9. Employees don’t understand,” lamented Stéphane Champoussin.

Drivers and agents mobilized to request better compensation for their work. “Every year, we are caught up by 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 within Lignes d’Azur Authority. “The company is sick, we can change faces, but the problems are not addressed,” regretted the CFTC Union delegate.

The mobilized people feel unheard. Employees explain having repeatedly sent written letters to the Authority’s president, Bertrand Gasiglia. “I didn’t explicitly request a meeting but I informed him of serious problems and he didn’t seek to resolve them,” confided Jean Capriglione. The representatives of the mobilized delegations reminded that it is up to the new president to invite all unions to meet with them. Furthermore, Bertrand Gasiglia had told our colleagues at Nice-Matin about ten days ago his willingness to negotiate with employees: “I took the helm of the authority on May 18. I inherited the situation. We’re discussing. We’ll see what comes of it.”

The term “odd methods” mentioned by the Authority’s president prompted a response from the CFTC Union delegate: “we are a highly unionized company, we observe abuses and we 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 for both strikes, we’re at over 50 percent. The network risks being paralyzed in the future,” indicates Stéphane Champoussin.

Promising listening

Nice’s first deputy mayor, Françoise Souliman, received representatives from both delegations. Upon leaving City Hall, the representatives seemed rather satisfied with this exchange. They affirmed being able to present their demands and have the sensation 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 tone.

Furthermore, he announced to the first deputy mayor his intention to sue Lignes d’Azur Authority on behalf of the CFTC for non-payment of overtime due to work schedule modulation: “this is union discrimination.” The representative confided that he had previously engaged in such a procedure which he won in first instance.

Both union associations requested an audit to analyze 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 Metropolitan area has moreover implemented a free transportation system on the Lignes d’Azur network for certain categories of people, such as seniors (65+) and certain professions like hospital and penitentiary officers. This mechanism will be valid starting September 1st.

However, this process will inevitably result in a financial loss of nearly six million euros for the transport network. In the context of difficult negotiations concerning employee compensation, Lignes d’Azur Authority will need to find a balance between the well-being of its staff and its solidarity ambitions.