Around fifty agents of intercommunal crèches of the Community of Communes of Pont du Gard were on strike this Tuesday and demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the intercommunality in Remoulins, at the call of the CFDT Interco Gard, with the support of several parents.
“The diaper is full”: the slogan seen on the sign of a demonstrator this Tuesday morning said a lot about the state of mind of the childcare assistants of the CCPG. There were around fifty of them, out of the 80 that make up the intermunicipality, to demonstrate for national demands, carried by the “No babies in the locker” movement, but also for local demands, on their remuneration, the organization of the service and more broadly the consideration given to them.
Locally, the strikers are demanding the CAF attractiveness bonus, of 100 euros net per month, a measure already applied in other municipalities. “Alès voted for it, there are communities that do so”underlines Cédric Marrot, departmental secretary CFDT Interco Gard, who came to Remoulins in support of this movement “starting from the base, we are here to support and structure it”adds Olivier Augras, from the union section at the CCPG. “We are also asking for more transparency on bonuses, here some have 50 euros, others 300, we also want more staff to compensate for absences, and not replacements who come one after the other, and we want staff qualified »unfolds Séverine, among the demonstrators.
Overall, faced with a lack of resources, the demonstrators denounce “institutional mistreatment, we don’t have eight arms”. “We do the best we can”continues Myriam, who deplores that “the quality of reception is increasingly undermined. » The strikers also denounce an inflexible organization, with vacation dates set by the hierarchy, and demand a flying week of vacation per agent, a demand from those “that don’t cost money”underlines Olivier Augras.
On site, the demonstrators regret a lack of social dialogue: “we want to be heard, we have been speaking out for two years, but we have the feeling that it is of no use”breathes Karine. Séverine, for her part, asks elected officials “to come and see on the ground” the situation within daycare centers. The movement was widely followed, and caused the closure this Tuesday of the five crèches and two micro-crèches managed by the CCPG, with the exception of a section of that of Remoulins.
The general director of CCPG services received a delegation late in the morning. “He listened, the meeting lasted more than two hours”relates Olivier Augras. The protesters “expressed themselves and were heard”he says, and an appointment was made this Wednesday evening at the headquarters of the intercommunality for a meeting with elected officials. “Now it’s up to them to make us proposals”concludes the trade unionist.
