What will resolve the situation, when the strike at the Pointe Jarry power station has lasted for two months? On paid leave, nothing can be done, the parties cannot find common ground. The FE-CGTG requires the application of the Labor Code for their calculation. But EDF-PEI refuses to change its calculation method, which the company claims is more favorable. Explanations from the union.
And now, what happens to the strike by the Energy Federation (FE-CGTG) at the Pointe Jarry electricity production plant in Baie-Mahault?
After the negotiation fiasco, the union and management of EDF Insular Energy Production (PEI) parted ways back to back yesterday (Thursday November 14, 2024), after two months of mobilization.
Without saying what is planned, in the days to come, the FE-CGTG “requires sincere and fair negotiations“, in a press release released this Friday.
As a reminder, no agreement was found on the last blocking point of demand, brought by the striking employees: the method of counting paid leave.
The FE-CGTG demands strict application of the Labor Code, which would allow workers to obtain 25 working days of paid leave.
The company insists that its method of calculation is better; which management failed to prove to union officials. The latter claim that this imposed system “only entitles agents to 23.5 working days of paid leave“.
To explain to the Guadeloupean public the causes of the blockage of discussions, the union is using pedagogy.
Elle [NDLR : EDF-PEI] takes refuge behind a judgment of the Court of Appeal of Rennes (May 11, 2006 – RG04/06288) confirmed by a judgment of the Court of Cassation (March 12, 2008 Appeal 06-19.598) which validates this method of counting since it is more favorable than the Labor Code.
Extract from the FE-CGTG press release – 11/15/2024.
But that’s it, indicates the Energy Federation: the EDF-PEI statement is more favorable than the Labor Code, combined with “inseparable elements“, mentioned in the aforementioned judgments, but not assembled by the company:
- The granting of two additional working days (i.e. 27 working days);
- The carryover of rights to the following financial year;
- The splitting of leave periods at the convenience of the employee.
Like last October 18, the dialogue is broken.
Furthermore, in the absence of signing of an end-of-conflict protocol, all points having been the subject of a negotiated agreement, recorded by the Directorate of Economy, Employment, Labor and solidarity (DEETS), remain obsolete.
The last time the FE-CGTG found itself cornered, things went badly.
All engines at the Pointe Jarry Power Plant were stopped and a blackout followed, depriving Guadeloupe of electricity for several hours. The system could be restarted after more than 39 hours.
This situation was catastrophic, in economic, security and health terms.
