At the national call of the FO and CGT unions, several employees of homes managed by the APF France handicap association, welcoming people with disabilities, went on strike this Tuesday, October 8, 2024. A day chosen while the social committee and extraordinary economic meeting meets due to serious financial difficulties.
“We are striking to support our 300 colleagues from shared management centers who are going to be made redundant. They take care of everything like payroll, etc. Out of twelve centers in France, eight will close,” explains Philippe Tanguy, CGT union representative and employee of the Soleil home in Fleury-sur-Orne (Calvados). “At our home and that of Douvres-la-Délivrande, thirty-four of the 110 employees are on strike,” continues the trade unionist.
The striking employees also denounce working and reception conditions which have deteriorated over the years. The absence of unreplaced employees in particular has consequences “in supporting residents, with showers that are not always done and breakfasts not always served.”
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A record financial deficit
Employees also express their feelings “institutional mistreatment both for residents and for employees who are tired and have low morale.” According to the CGT and FO unions, this situation is due “to bad strategic choices by the national leadership”.
Contacted, APF France handicap responded in a press release that it was going through “an unprecedented financial crisis with a record deficit of 37.7 million euros”. With an obligation for the association to review its economic model.
A situation resulting, among other things, from the health crisis linked to Covid, from salary increases linked in particular to the Ségur de la santé “and insufficiently financed by supervisory authorities, such as departmental councils and regional health agencies”. National management also points to the increase in operating costs linked to continuing inflation. As well as the growing use of temporary work “to compensate for the lack of attractiveness of the sector”.
