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New fuss about ferries to Corsica

New onset of fever to SNCM. During one week, a dozen sailors were delayed for one hour each day the ship departs The Corsican liaising Nice L'Île Rousse. They demanded an adjustment of their pay with that of other marine company. They succeeded, and The Corsican found Thursday its normal pace.

This social movement falls at the worst time, tourist season and while the company controlled by Veolia has also lost market share in the first half. Its traffic decreased 7.1%, one of Corsica Ferries increased by 17.5%. Moby Lines, the latest newcomer, received nearly 33 000 passengers in three months.

"Our main concern is with Moby Lines are denied benefits that help the passenger, and Corsica Ferries.With the current system, they can only gain additional market share, "worries Alpozzo Frederick, Secretary General of the CGT SNCM seafarers. For the union, the welfare system to the passenger distributed by the local authority Corsican airlines operating out of Nice and Toulon is "antagonistic" to that of the public service delegation (PSD), benefiting SNCM and CMN from Marseilles. "This is not a compensation of public service but a premium for social dumping," Frederick Alpozzo ton.

Risk of losses in 2010

A report commissioned by the government pointed the problem. The ball is in the camp community Corsican. A special session is scheduled in September to review all aid to maritime transport. "SNCM is in a delicate position.She could ask to not go after the convention of CSP, which expires at the end of 2013, we recognize the Corsican Transportation Agency (CTA). Out of the red in 2008, SNCM has gained nearly 18 million euros in 2009 thanks to a gain on disposal of a vessel (26 million). The CTA believes that the company's losses could reach 20 million this year. To make matters worse, if a new DSP is launched, the agreement could exclude ferries operating at peak periods. She would come into force in 2012. Suddenly, the reduction plan envisaged by the SNCM fleet in February, dropped after the strikes of the CGT, may become relevant.

"We need things to change and we stop losing money.Either we reorganized the DSP is still there and it will be dramatic, because it will break everything, "Frederick alarmed Alpozzo who admits fear a scenario where the SeaFrance 725 employees will be dismissed.

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