Thus Internet now represents 26 of bookings

Six months ago, la SNCM, turning a page in its history, became a private company owned 38 by the Butler Capital Partners Fund and 28 by Veolia, the State retaining 25 while employees will soon divide 9 of the titles through a business savings plan put in place by the end of the month. Since June 1, Veolia Transport men seven in total across the key positions are at the helm of the company. It is a revolution for the shipping company, created in 1976 by the State to ensure territorial continuity between Corsica and the continent, whose history is checkpointed social crises on bottom of arms of iron with the unions.

The new shareholders are rather paw of velvet. "We are not in an ideological confrontation;" our principle is to respect all the agreements, but no agreements. "In the case of a discrepancy of reading, we try to find a middle way," says Gérard Couturier, the President of the company, former officer of the Merchant Navy. But to the SNCM there are still far between the speech and the field, and the new team has been faced with some quack who demonstrate that ancient traditions did not disappear. Early July, the "Mediterranean" remained thus to dock for a workforce problem, blocking 8,000 people on the port. On 30 October, three ships were immobilized, unions challenging this time "the disproportionate authority" of an officer.

Deleting jobs

"The direction incorrectly apprehended problems and has not understood that there was a difference between the texts and the us and customs", note Jean-Paul Israel, the Secretary General of the CGT of sailors. The head of the company acknowledged he was surprised the dimension "incredible and sudden episode which would never have the out of the edge" and opened the new construction site "of greater internal solidarity." Everyone agrees that nothing will really change until uncertainty about the future will not be lifted. "Since our arrival, we especially worked to respond to the new call for tenders for the shipping services to Corsica between 2007 and 2012", explains Gérard Couturier.

These last month were also marked by the legal conflict with the STEF-TFE Group around the control of southern shipping company, a joint subsidiary. That does not facilitate changes in depth of the SNCM. The outcome depends on the fate of the company, the buyers can make their shares to the State if it does not receive the delegation of public service on the island of beauty. The result of the tender conditions also in implementing the business plan presented by Veolia and approved by 77 per cent of the staff which provides for the removal of 400 jobs in voluntary departure and return to profit in 2009. He will be hired, at best, in February.

A light organization

"The new direction still took in large areas to arm the body", temper Maurice Perrin, delegate CFE - CGC. Of fleet management, a new programming technical stops and maintenance has been implemented. Tenders are more systematic, with an opening above the Marseille building. A computer system was developed to better manage the need for crew, the emphasis on the quality of the service. Commercially, the strategy has been more aggressive in the summer, with promotional hooks, although the majority of the offer could not be changed. Controls and procedures are in place to limit leakage in restaurants and bars in the ships with as a result a progression of several points of the passenger recipe, according to the Directorate. A contract was made with the Accor Group to improve the edge hotel service. La SNCM also appealed to VVF to ensure animations for children. The general principle is to develop agreements with professionals of the tourism in Corsica to propose common products.

"Overall, we have to implement an organization more reactive, more light, taking account of technological developments", says the leader. Thus, Internet now represents 26 of bookings. In the end, SNCM resumed year marked by strikes, share market with 896.573 passengers transported to 31 October on the island of beauty, or 19.4 more than in 2005. But it remains far from Corsica Ferries Announces 1.3 million people on the island of Corsica at the start of the French mainland. Site of reforms remains wide open.