Following the press conference by the president of the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour held yesterday, the UPPA trade union organizations are calling for a strike and demonstration this Thursday, December 5 in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées and Landes.
Faced with a series of measures deemed unacceptable for the future of higher education and research (ESR), the trade union organizations CFDT, CGT, M22M, FSU, SUD-Solidaires and UNSA of the University of Pau and Pays de l'Adour (UPPA) are calling for a massive mobilization this Thursday, December 5, 2024 in the Hautes-Pyrénées, the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Landes. This call is part of a national civil service strike movement, aimed at defending the rights of staff and students, as well as demanding resources that meet needs.
Demands made loud and clear
The organizations denounce reforms and measures which weaken the public service of the ESR, in particular:
– The reduction in reception capacity in several key sectors (STAPS, Legal Sciences, and Economics-Management).
– Budget cuts directly affecting student support.
– An increase in registration fees in the medium term, making access to studies even more difficult.
They claim:
– Increase in index point for all agents.
– The creation of permanent positions to strengthen the workforce.
– The abandonment of measures which weaken staff, such as the three-day waiting period or the reduction in compensation in the event of sick leave.
– The refusal of a second day of free work under the pretext of solidarity.
– Ambitious funding for public universities, in line with the growing needs of ESR.
General mobilization necessary
If the unions welcome the recent request for an increase in funding made by the president of the UPPA, Laurent Bordes, they nevertheless regret the insufficient mobilization of the establishment during the national “Universities in Danger” day of December 3. They call on the president to take a step forward by clearly supporting the December 5 strike:
– By not pointing out or taking money from striking personnel.
– By avoiding any attendance checks for mobilized students.
– By firmly opposing Act II of university autonomy, perceived as an additional threat to equality and the quality of public service.
Calendar of actions in the Pays de l’Adour
UPPA staff and students are invited to participate in local events:
– Tarbes: at 10:00 a.m., Place Verdun.
– Mont-de-Marsan: at 10:30 a.m., in front of the prefecture.
– Bayonne: at 10:30 a.m., Place Sainte-Ursule.
– Pau: at 10:30 a.m., Place Verdun (meet in front of the Côtes & Mer restaurant to join the UPPA procession).
In the afternoon, a general meeting will be held at 2 p.m. in amphitheater 150 of the Law-Economy-Management building on the Pau campus.
A call for solidarity and collective action
The unions insist on the importance of massive mobilization to put an end to the austerity measures imposed on the ESR. “Together, staff, students and organizations must build a future where access to quality public higher education remains a national priority. This December 5, 2024, the time has come to fight for an ambitious ESR public service, inclusive and up to the social and economic challenges of tomorrow, let us be numerous to defend our rights and the future of our universities!”
