Something must be done about the minimum wage, given the high cost of living, and housing costs in particular. That is what the president of the railway union Syprolux said on Thursday morning here on RTL. Mylène Bianchy also expressed her solidarity with the union federations OGBL and LCGB in that regard.
Even though railway workers are assimilated into the public sector, she said, the public sector can only do well “if colleagues in the private sector also get what they are entitled to”. She expressed concern about the government’s approach to the unions. The government must take its responsibilities, but the Syprolux president regretted that it was on a “collision course” with the unions.
As for the salary agreement in the public sector for the next two years, it is still too early to say where negotiations are heading. Mylène Bianchy said she could already imagine that if the government wanted to “tighten the belt” for some, it would also try to do the same in the public sector. She nonetheless emphasised that continued investment in the public sector is essential, as the economy cannot function without it.
People have had a “significantly shorter fuse” since the Covid pandemic
Another topic of discussion was safety in public transport. The number of incidents of aggression reported on trains, buses and trams is rising faster than passenger numbers, according to the Syprolux president. Bianchy also reported four cases of physical violence against train staff since the start of the year. Physical violence ranges from being shoved to being struck, with or without injury. Sexual harassment is also a rising issue. Among staff, the increase in reported cases stands at 31.5 per cent. For incidents of aggression between passengers, the figure is close to 11 per cent.
Since the COVID pandemic, people have been “wired differently”, according to Mylène Bianchy. They have a “significantly shorter fuse”. The figures also show that most incidents of aggression occur in the afternoon. Could stress be a factor? According to the Syprolux president, the phenomenon could be linked to delays and/or overcrowded trains and buses.
Systems for reporting incidents have been improving over the last ten years, notably through digital means, as well as ongoing awareness-raising campaigns. However, to act as a deterrent or preventive measure, the Syprolux president believes there needs to be more camera surveillance, as well as protective screens for bus drivers. In addition, security personnel are needed in stations and on trains, along with better cooperation with the police. This is also being continuously developed: at CFL, the goal this year is for 15 per cent of trains to be accompanied by additional staff.
