“The destruction of public services must stop”: territorial agents in turn demonstrate in front of the Gers prefecture

“Minister Kasbarian blames civil servants for all the evils. […] He defends a capitalist vision of territorial public service.” At the microphone, in front of 25 people, Solange Esseul, coordinator of the CGT, denounces, this Tuesday, November 19, the remarks of the Minister of the Civil Service, Guillaume Kasbarian, who reported, at the end of October , a significant increase in sick leave for civil servants.

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A trend since partly contradicted by the latest “Annual report on the state of the civil service”, which ensures that an increase in the annual duration worked was noted in 2023 in the civil service, which can “be explained by a decrease in the number of days of leave and absence compared to 2022. “We must stop feeding into preconceived ideas about voluntary stoppages,” continues the union activist. “Overwork, chronic understaffing, non-recognition of arduousness… This is the reality of absenteeism.”

Beyond the measure proposed by the minister to extend the waiting period for sick leave, the trade unionists present in front of the Gers prefecture, a few hundred meters from the angry farmers, also denounce the drop in the community budget. Non-replacement of retired agents, freeze on hiring, freeze on the index point… “Territorial civil servants do not have to take responsibility for policies destroying public services,” believes Solange Esseul.

The CGT of Gers also sent a letter to all the mayors of the department, to defend the public service, while the AMF congress began this Tuesday. “The destruction of public services must stop.”