According to the general secretary of the trade union, this decision is the logical outcome of a statement contained in the strike notice given to the Senegalese and Malian authorities denouncing the deteriorating situation in the railway company.

Chief amongst the unions' demands are the sacking of current director, François Lemieux and their rejection of the current collective bargaining machinery. "We are demanding the reinstatement of 11 unfairly dismissed members of staff", adds Pierre Ndoye.

For him this collective stoppage is the first step in a fight for their dignity. This is why speaking for his colleagues he warns that "if there is no positive decision in the next 48 hours to solve the problems experienced by railwaymen on the Dakar-Korofina line we intend to move up a gear; ie, to call an unlimited work stoppage on both sides of the Falémé bridge [the rail bridge joining Senegal and Mali]".

"Today, we share the same goals as our Malian colleagues, let’s work together in the same company".

"That's why we developed this plan of action together working in a strongly united framework", he explains.

In any case, the massive participation by the workers in the stoppage and their sit-in at the company’s headquarters in front of their management at Thiès, says it all about the railworkers’ determination to see it through.