In a recent poll some 69 percent agreed that the special employment status of rail workers needs to be reformed.
Another poll revealed that for 58 percent of the public any strikes by rail workers over the planned reforms were “not justified”.
- French strikes LATEST: France hit by major travel disruption
- Macron faces first big test as nationwide strikes and protests hit France
- 'People must understand': French unions explain why the travel chaos is justified

Les Français ne soutiennent pas les crevards de #cheminots car ils défendent seulement leurs statuts et leurs privilèges alors que tous les Français soutiennent le personnel soignant et donc nos #hopitaux ! #SNCF #Greve22mars #crevard #Manifestations #manifestation #Manif22Mars
— Arnaud (@wArnaudw) March 22, 2018
Je suis au regret d'annoncer aux grévistes qu'ils sont dans l'incapacité de me gêner durant cette #Greve22mars et au-delà, je peux tout faire à pied hihihi 😀
Bravo #Macron de réformer ce statut et la SNCF en général: des retards fréquents, de + en + d'accidents et dette massive! pic.twitter.com/wEQIF5tOvw— Ezereal ??? (@So_Ethereal) March 22, 2018
“Dear striker, yes, YOU! Know that I, a business owner, don't have time to go on strike, I don't have the time to waste because I don't have any [time]. I don't have a quarter of the advantages that you have and look at what you're doing. I'm not the sucker, you are.” wrote another.
Cher gréviste, oui, TOI ! Sache que moi, entrepreneur, je n'ai pas le temps de faire grève, je n'ai pas le temps d'en perdre car je n'en ai pas. Je n'ai pas le 1/4 des avantages que tu as et regarde ce que tu en fais. Le pigeon ce n'est pas toi, c'est moi. #Greve22mars
— broc4you (@broc4you) March 22, 2018
Readers of The Local also voiced their frustration over the strikes.
such bullshit. strikes are a 1st resort in France
— Michelle Kelly-Irving (@shell_ki) March 22, 2018
Are French transport workers really so much worse off than those in other countries where this doesn’t happen constantly? Exasperated https://t.co/pLNQl5Tz2b
— Sedulia Scott (@Sedulia) March 21, 2018
Usager qui soutient les cheminot !!! Pour le service public #Greve22mars
— Scofield (@jamalounet) March 22, 2018
La SNCF propriété de la Nation !#Greve22mars #22mars #JeSoutiensLesCheminots pic.twitter.com/264Xzffsvu
— Christian Le Caloch (@Piwisy) March 22, 2018
And other Twitter users who supported the strike targeted French President Emmanuel Macron directly.
“How to stop Macron? #Simple #Basic #22March #Strike22March #Togetherinthesocialbattle
Comment stopper Macron ?#Simple #Basique
? #22mars #greve22mars #EnsembleDansLaLutteSociale ?✊ https://t.co/mXYJQZOwWx— φ Dimebagou φ (@victor_berson) March 21, 2018
“Revolt is coming !” #Greve22mars #22mars #EnsembleDansLaLutteSociale ! pic.twitter.com/ViJXLx4OC6
— La République En Meme (@LREMeme) March 21, 2018