a year on all fronts in Vaucluse in the social file

They have demonstrated several times this year. Particularly during the summer, after learning of a state budget cut concerning them. Judicial Youth Protection staff expressed their dismay at increasingly precarious working conditions. This social plan has effectively reduced the teams in Vaucluse by four or five positions. “This management of the national directorate of the Judicial Protection of Youth is calamitous, castigated Vincent Fritsch, educator in Carpentras and co-secretary of the SNPES-PJJ-FSU. Follow-ups will stop. Kids will be on the waiting list , court decisions will not be applied,” the union representative further pointed out.

An entire sector found itself shaken again, fearing increased difficulties in recruitment

From September to December, they took center stage. Feminist groups have increased their rallies in front of the court, where the so-called Mazan rape trial was held, with Dominique Pélicot as the main accused, drugging his wife before having her raped by men.

At each of these gatherings, “rape culture” has been in the dock, as has the predominance of patriarchy in our society. Each time they speak, these same harsh words urge the justice system to apply more firmness towards the perpetrators of sexist and sexual violence. Also at the initiative of these activists, multiple banners deployed around the court and inscriptions in tribute to Gisèle Pélicot, who in a few weeks became a global feminist muse. Until the day of the verdict, Thursday December 19, the activists occupied the field, in order to put pressure on the justice system and “salute the courage of Gisèle”.

They also marked the news in 2024. On several occasions, farmers, under the aegis of the FDSEA and the JA, gave their voice in Vaucluse, to demand an acceleration of the implementation of the promised simplification measures months ago. On November 18, they dumped waste in front of the Avignon prefecture. We also followed them recently, putting pressure on wine merchants, accused of charging repurchase prices that are too low. Which gave rise to some scenes of violence in Sainte-Cécile-les-Vignes. An agricultural world “at the end of its rope”, which seems determined to continue its actions as long as its words are not better heard. Farmers should be talked about again in 2025.

On May 29, Chantal Rafanel, spokesperson for the collective welcoming unaccompanied minors and families in exile, came to the Solidarity center of the Departmental Council to urge the institution to “take responsibility for one's responsibilities”, in this case “take care of these young people in great precariousness”, exposing messages of dismay to raise public awareness. “We are not a shelter subcontracted by the Department. Pending support from them, this young person has no legal guardian on French territory,” proclaimed the activist. A situation that is difficult to resolve.

In November, the operating room of the Avignon hospital was the scene of a standoff, pitting agents against director Pierre Pinzelli. The announcement of a reorganization “without any consultation” according to the CGT, caused unrest among staff, denouncing unhappiness at work and harassment. Around fifty agents exercised their right to withdraw, still ensuring continuity of care. Tensions escalated when management threatened to fire the detractors. A sequence which dragged on, with the CGT demanding to sort out the various dysfunctions before any other new measure. At the end of the month, the operating room returned to normal activity, a conflict resolution protocol having been signed. Management notably proposed the establishment of a moratorium on this reorganization.

The hospital damaged

The beatings inflicted on the public hospital have often made the headlines in our department. In Cavaillon, the imposed reduction in the emergency regime has created serious concerns among the population.

In Orange, in February, the mobilization, led by the Force Ouvrière union, was strong to defend the resources allocated to the hospital and circumvent the logic of profitability that the State seeks to establish.

At the heart of the tensions, the elimination of 26 positions, including 12 for caregivers and nurses, firmly contested by the agents, through an indefinite strike and a series of meetings at regular intervals in front of the establishment. Over the course of these three “Black Thursdays”, everyone vigorously defended the quality of care.

In the end, it was noted that only 12 positions out of the 26 will disappear. The union has warned that it wants to remain particularly attentive to the destiny of the Orange hospital which can count on its loyal defenders. And there are many of them.

More or less numerous, we saw them on several occasions taking to the streets in Avignon, to denounce degraded working conditions. The civil servants thus regret being “little considered, little rewarded”, thus demanding greater recognition from the State. Their objective is also to increase the index point, which has been frozen for years.

Health stakeholders are part of these processions, regretting that the financial aspect has become so significant in the government's choices. To the detriment of patients.