Par
Hervé Pavageau
Published on
Nov 5, 2024 at 4:58 p.m.
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Near a banner with the direct message “Let's fight for our gains, stop profits”, pallets are burning.
Further on, a sound system spits out committed songs by Telephone, Damien Saez…
This Tuesday, November 5, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., the staff of Chimotaie in Cugand (Vendee) establishment of the MGEN (General Mutual of National Education)* was on strike.
80% of staff on strike
According to the inter-union, 80% of the staff demonstrated in front of the entrance to the establishment in which 230 people work.
Never has a movement “been so followed”according to employees and union officials.
It is even “a first in the history” of the structure which is, however, not its first action.
Added to the large number of strikers is its diversity.
The representation is broad.
Doctors, nurses, caregivers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, dieticians, pharmacy technicians, administrative services, logistics, maintenance, catering, etc., all day and night jobs are present.
A national movement
Employees at the Cugand center are not the only ones on strike.
The movement launched by the Intersyndicale (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CGT and UNSA), and supported by patients and families, is national.
It affects the 35 health, medico-social establishments and medical centers of a group with 10,000 employees which historically provides social security coverage for teachers.
Everyone fears and denounces the transfer of establishments to VyV, a group that MGEN co-founded with Harmonie Mutuelle in 2017.
The division, organized by region, must be spread out over time. The first is scheduled for January 2025. For Chimotaie, the only MGEN establishment in the region, the sale is scheduled for July 2026.
Fear of losing social gains
This decision results in the transfer of more than 4,000 employees, with a drastic challenge to their social status.
By changing groups and employers, employees fear seeing their social gains, built through social dialogue and agreements, disappear.
“This concerns many things: offers from the works council, scholarships for higher education, reimbursement of tuition fees or vacation rentals,” comments Christelle Clémot.
“What also about bonuses on purchasing power? This represents €500 at the end of the year every year. Or the profit-sharing bonus,” continues the CFDT union delegate, who also fears the loss of RTT days in certain services.
“The end of these benefits for a professional is a loss estimated between €1,500 to €2,000 per year,” says Marita Hervouet, representative of the UNSA.
With this transfer project, the risk is to see employees leave the establishment and a sector of activity which is already struggling to recruit.
“That’s the question. Will professionals stay if they no longer have these skills? », insist the staff representatives.
Also questioning the future of the site
Behind the questioning adds another fear.
That of the future of the establishment.
Services such as management and administration could be shared and centralized on other sites.
When questioned, Chimotaie management did not comment.
“This is a national call. Negotiations are underway. At the establishment level, we have organized ourselves for the care of patients and residents,” responded Elizabeth Richard, deputy director who praised the work of “the very united and committed teams”.
Negotiations continue
Negotiations with the management of MGEN and the VyV group are continuing.
The inter-union must meet in Paris this week to take stock. She has one month to negotiate. An agreement on the sale must be finalized by December 13.
For the moment, no other mobilization has been announced.
* The MGEN establishment in Chimotaie includes an 83-place nursing home and a 113-bed rehabilitation medical care center.
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