French PM says no talks on SNCF debt until reform talks progress

Railway workers cast their ballots as they vote about the strike at the Nice railway station on the second day of a nationwide strike by French SNCF railway workers in Nice, France, April 4, 2018. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

PARIS (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Thursday he would not back down on plans to overhaul the state-run SNCF railways, as the pro-reform CFDT labour union said it would take part in a further wave of strikes starting on Sunday.

Philippe reiterated that he would not enter into talks over how much of the SNCF's debt of 46 billion euros (£40.2 billion) the government would soak up until progress was made on the future organisation of the SNCF and employee rights.