FILE PHOTO: French state-owned SNCF railway company employees and labour union members demonstrate as part of a nationwide strike in Paris, France, May 14, 2018. So far, there has been no sign from President Emmanuel Macron that he will back down on the biggest and most disputed reform proposed.Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne signaled there would be no turning back, telling Europe 1 radio hours ahead of the vote result: “I don’t think it was very responsible of the unions to have people believe the reform might not happen.”The unions call it a “referendum”. The state-appointed boss of the SNCF SNCF.UL railways, Guillaume Pepy, says it is nothing more than a “petition” bereft of any legal value, a statement echoed by Borne.Pepy says the railworkers’ strike could cost the SNCF 350-400 million euros.The result of the vote marks the beginning of a critical period in the rail reform process. On Friday, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will meet with the unions and respond to proposed amendments to the draft bill that is with the Senate.Macron has already stared down the unions over labor law reforms. A government spokesman declined to comment.

Source: Egypt Today May 23, 2018 06:45 UTC