What will the future organization of Lyon’s public transport network look like by 2025? The project, envisaged by Sytral, raises fears. Starting with those of trade unions. While a new day of strike is scheduled for Thursday, the scenario of “allotment” will be submitted to the vote of elected Sytral.
This project plans to delegate the operation of the network, currently entrusted to the private company Keolis, in the form of two lots. One will bring together the “heavy modes” of transport, namely the metro, the funicular, the tramway (including Rhônexpress), infrastructure management and security for a period of ten years. The other will cover buses and trolleys for a period of six years.
30 years of monopoly for Keolis
“Keolis has had a monopoly for 30 years now. Inevitably, habits are created. There is a little less innovation and the impression that we are resting on our laurels. Relations are becoming difficult,” judge Bruno Bernard, the president of Sytral who would like to bring “competition” into play to wake up the sleeping girl. Or find better. The call for tenders will be made at European level. The management of the two batches by the same operator is possible. Targeted by critics, Keolis will be able to apply for its own succession, provided it improves its copy.
“The objective is to create a unified network, to strengthen the management of the authorities organizing mobility, and to have healthy competition”, specifies Bruno Bernard. But the unions remain skeptical. “Why break what works? The examples of allotment in other European cities of equivalent size to the Lyon network have not demonstrated an improvement in service to users, quite the contrary. This is more expensive for communities and deprives them of the benefit of economies of scale”, respond together the CGT and the CFDT for which the “efficiency” of Keolis is well established.
A social base to guarantee the benefits and rights of employees
“This reorganization will not change anything for users or employees. The competition will not be played on their backs”, promises Bruno Bernard, referring to the establishment of a “social base”. In other words, it is a matter of guaranteeing employees to keep their remuneration, rights and social benefits. “If the future delegate does not respect this minimum base, the contract will be broken”, warns the strong man of Sytral.
These announcements seem to have appeased some of the employees. 350 will be on strike this Thursday, against 1,100 last month. But they do not reassure the unions. “Nothing legally can guarantee the current social status and even less make it possible to harmonize the social status of the employees of the various operators in the event of allotment”, still reply the CGT and the CFDT, calling on the elected representatives of Sytral to vote against this deliberation.