Since Tuesday, children's and school life agents in Saint-Denis have been massively on strike to denounce the deterioration of their working conditions, which endangers the safety of staff and children. While their movement caused the closure of almost all schools in Saint-Denis during after-school hours, the town hall led by socialist mayor Mathieu Hanotin turned a deaf ear. In the newspaper Le Parisien, she even went so far as to express her incomprehension: “ It's incomprehensible in substance and it distances people from public service in terms of form. They come to work and announce that they are going on strike shortly before lunch. It's a union expression that prepares for next year's elections. »
A further manifestation of contempt for the town hall and Mr Hanotin, who is known for his anti-social policies imposing deplorable working conditions on municipal agents. The strikers' demands are, however, very clear, and are written in black and white in their strike notice. They demand hiring, the tenure of contract workers or at least the signing of their contracts (some say they have been working since September without a contract, a totally illegal situation), the consideration of students with disabilities, the reassessment of their bonus with recognition of the arduousness of their work as well as quality premises large enough to accommodate the students.
The launch of the strike this week is in no way a coincidence. Indeed, the strikers sadly commemorated this week the tragic death of one of their ATSEM colleagues. Died following an illness at her workplace a year ago, the agent had nevertheless alerted her superiors on numerous occasions to her exhaustion linked to her poor working conditions. As Djamila Bassi, secretary of the FO union, explained to us, despite warnings from the union, the town hall had at the time refused to see the link between the death of this woman and her working conditions. At the microphone of Permanent Revolution, she denounces: “ A year later, nothing has changed, working conditions are even worse since the start of the school year with the implementation of the free canteen which has increased the number of students during lunchtime “. Without additional hiring of staff, the load of children to be monitored becomes too high, a dangerous situation for students and workers. Djamilla Bassi asks: “ is the municipality waiting for more deaths? [pour réagir] ? »
Well aware that the Barnier government's announcements on budget cuts in local authorities will accelerate the deterioration of their working conditions, with in particular in Seine Saint-Denis a loss of resources of 44.4 million expected, the strikers also denounce the offensives on public services which primarily affect staff and users: “ They are behind their desk, they are making budget cuts, it's easy on paper, but they are not in this situation. », denounces Djamila Bassi. In the same way, the trade unionist also expressed her support for the strikers at the Beaujon hospital (92) with whom they share demands against the breakdown of public services.
After meeting every lunchtime in a general assembly at the labor exchange, the strikers intend to continue their mobilization next week by intensifying the pressure on the town hall. In this sense, they are calling to gather on Monday at noon in front of the town hall of Saint-Denis. For the occasion, parents of students and in particular of the FCPE gave their support to the strikers and also called for them to come together. As they fight against the degradation of public services, and as these workers look after the children of the majority of Saint-Denis residents, their demands and interests are those of the majority. In this sense, let us be many to gather alongside them, see you this Monday at noon in front of the town hall of Saint-Denis!
The strike fund of school agents in struggle here
