The bus strike in Yvelines on Monday, November 17, affects the entire Transdev Sud-Yvelines network, with more than 80% of drivers participating. This large-scale industrial action involves 433 Transdev employees, called out by all the trade unions represented within the company. The strike is affecting the eight depots in the area, from Houdan to Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, including Rambouillet, a major hub in the local network. Here is what you need to know about this day of disruption, which is set to be complicated for users.
Above all, drivers are complaining about recurring errors in their pay. "Sometimes up to €500 or €600 per month per employee is missing," says Miguel Gomes, CSE secretary at Transdev and union representative. This situation is exasperating employees, who are facing repeated financial difficulties due to these payroll malfunctions.
Beyond salary issues, safety conditions are also a concern for employees. "The buses pose serious and imminent dangers. Tires burst because they are too smooth and are not changed early enough," explains Miguel Gomes in L'Écho Républicain. The demands also relate to the safety of drivers and passengers, particularly after several incidents of buses being burned over the past year and during night journeys on the Noctilien lines.
The unions are pointing the finger at the company's financial situation: Transdev Sud-Yvelines, a public service delegation, is said to have lost €4.3 million in 2024. According to staff representatives, this situation is pushing management to "cut back on staff and safety," while exerting "significant managerial pressure" on employees. They also denounce what they consider to be unfair dismissals.
"The entire network will be affected," says Miguel Gomes. The Rambouillet, Ablis, and Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelinesareas couldbe the most affected by this industrial action. In some areas, all drivers have joined the strike. This situation is particularly problematic as 75% of the network consists of school transport.
The Centre and Sud Yvelines bus network operated by Transdev serves the southern part of the Yvelines department, part of Essonne and Eure-et-Loir, and consists of 116 lines. This Monday, users in the Rambouillet Territoires, Cœur d'Yvelines, Haute vallée de Chevreuse, and Pays Houdanais urban communities will have to find alternative solutions for their travel needs.
Users are advised to plan their routes in advance and check real-time traffic information. The strike notice, filed by the unions and the social and economic committee (CSE), covers Monday, November 17, but could be extended. Representatives are hoping for a quick and concrete response from management.
For traffic updates, visit the Île-de-France Mobilités website, which provides real-time information. This protest is being organized by the Transport Union and CGT Transports. Transdev Sud-Yvelines management has not yet publicly announced any measures to defuse the situation.
In short, this massive strike on public transport in Yvelines is likely to seriously complicate travel in the south of the department. If you are looking for a good way to avoid the hassle, consider carpooling or find out about alternative routes that may still be running.
