In September 2005, the government’s total privatisation plan for the Ferry traqnsporter SNCM ran into opposition from the unions. However another dispute brought them back together, between 20 September and mid-October 2005, following the government’s announcement of the privatisation of the SNCM. Originally party to a plan to sell the entire company to an American investment group (Butler), the government ended up conceding an alternative way to distribute the SNCM’s shares: Butler will get a 38% stake; Connex (a subsidiary of Veolia environnement) will take a 28% holding and will operate the business; the State will keep 25%; the employees will get 9% of the capital, which means that the last two together retain a veto (EIRO Ref: FR0602101N)