firefighters threaten to strike for the Festival of Lights

Rhône fire soldiers are on indefinite strike. In question, the elimination of their housing bonus and the compensation of 200 euros obtained this summer as part of their mobilization during the Paris Games, far from expectations.

This Tuesday, October 1 marks the start of a strike by firefighters in the metropolis of Lyon and the Rhône. The South union is calling for an indefinite strike, particularly due to a work overload. The compensation of 200 euros obtained after the mobilization for the Paris 2024 Games also makes the firefighters cringe, because it is considered too low.

To make themselves heard, the firefighters also threaten not to work during the Festival of Lights, a period when “you have a mille-feuille which is added to the already busy mille-feuille of operational matters”, explains Rémy Chabbouh, firefighter and general secretary Sud-SDIS firefighters 69, at the microphone of BFM Lyon.

“I’m going to be a little trivial, forgive me, but you’re going to get by without the firefighters,” threatens the latter.

Removal of housing allowance

Another demand from the SDMIS unions: the elimination of housing allowance paid to 320 firefighters. In a press release, management justifies this cessation. “The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Audit Chamber indicated (…) that the compensatory housing allowance is not based on any ‘specific legal basis’”.

In a letter addressed to the firefighters, the president of the SDMIS ensures that she understands the consequences of this deletion. “I fully appreciate the impacts of this difficult decision and I remain determined to seek favorable conditions for the continued implementation of the memorandum of understanding for the year 2025,” indicates Zémorda Kheilfi.

The firefighters plan to write their demands on the vehicles and guarantee a minimum service.