French cross-border commuters can rest assured. Trains between Metz and Luxembourg will be running this Monday 20 January, contrary to . Negotiations between the social partners and the rail operator continued last night and this Friday morning, leading to an agreement.

The point of contention and negotiation concerned the Luxembourg recognition bonus for drivers required to travel beyond the French border. This is a local allowance of €100 gross per month, introduced last year, which had not yet been increased at the beginning of the year, as the staff concerned had demanded.

“To operate on the Luxembourg network, French train drivers must master the specific Luxembourg regulations, in addition to the French regulations,” the SNCF explained yesterday. This Friday morning, the unions backed down and lifted the strike notice after having--partially--won their case: €30 gross in addition to the €100 already agreed. “We have obtained a doubling of the bonus of €7.50 per day when they drive in Luxembourg. These bonuses are permanent over the next two years, despite the drastic cost-cutting measures to be implemented by the Region and the SNCF,” confirmed FGAAC-CFDT union delegate Eric Vasseur.

This article was originally published in .