the distress of precarious agents whose jobs will be eliminated by the department

The announcement had the effect of a bombshell: 500 contracts will not be renewed by the Haute-Garonne Departmental Council. Savings plan required. The agents concerned were informed, plunging them into disarray, with no certainty about the future. Testimonials.

“I worked four months. And then we have to start all over again. If I'm not taken as a flying agent, I have to start from scratch, look for a job. During the holiday season, this is not the time.“This fixed-term employee of the Haute-Garonne Departmental Council is in deep doubt. Like many community agents, her contract will not be renewed due to the announced budget cuts.

The young woman lives alone with her two children. After working in catering and in a nursery, at the start of the 2024 school year she landed a contract as a multi-purpose agent in a college in Toulouse. A 4-month contract, until December 31, accompanied by promises of stability. Farah thought she had found “job security” by signing with the departmental council. Until this announcement in mid-November: the community announced the elimination of 500 contract positions linked to budgetary savings.

Dahlia, who works in the same college, finds herself in the same situation. She also signed a contract until December 31 as a versatile agent. “We had the stability we wanted. We already saw ourselves going far with a good salary and vacations. And ultimately, well, no.“Dahlia had planned ahead, had started to carry out projects. And above all, she loves this work, the team, the school where she is.

Also read: VIDEO. Anger of Departmental Council agents on strike against the elimination of 500 jobs, 2000 people in the street

The announcement of the non-renewal of contracts hurt. “I cried a lot“, Farah tells us. For her part, Dahlia admits to having taken a hit to her morale. “I was called, while I was in full service, to tell me that I was summoned to the Departmental Council to talk to me about my contractshe says. The meeting was to tell us that it was not their fault, that it came from higher up… Which I completely understandrecognizes Dahlia. They did what they were asked. But it still hurts.“

“I am 23 years old. I am young. I can bounce back“, Dahlia tells us while worrying about her colleague in a situation”more precarious“with her children. According to the two women, a new call for applications has been launched by the Departmental Council for contracts”flying agents“.

Farah talks about 20-hour contracts, just to provide canteen service at midday. “But it will still be a cash flow“, she tells us, specifying that at the end of her current contract, given the salaries of the last three months, the allowances will drop. You will therefore have to apply, go through an interview again. Without certainty of being taken on. “We had a month of stress before knowing if we were going to be renewed or not. And there, we continue in the stress of knowing if we are going to be caught.“

We are in doubt, we know nothing. All we do is wait. To check emails and voice messages.

Farah, contract worker for the Haute-Garonne departmental council

Evoking a “exceptional context“the Department indicated that it “had no other choice but to reduce its spending to complete the 2025 budget. It will be missing 160 million euros for an overall budget estimated at 1.670 billion euros.“On November 26, 2000 people demonstrated in the streets of Toulouse to denounce these budget cuts.

The departmental community indicates that the inventory of situations is in progress, between unreplaced retirements, mobility wishes and non-renewed contracts. The staffing table for 2025 should be known during the vote on the initial budget of the departmental council in March.

(Farah and Dahlia are borrowed first names to preserve the anonymity of our interlocutors)