the medico-social on strike, the Devèze and Croix d’Argent centers threatened?

This Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the call of the CGT, professionals of social et du medico-social of Hérault were on strike to remind people of the extent to which this sector suffers from a lack of resources and consideration. Strikers found themselves in front of the doors of the departmental councilto Alco, a major organizer of social and medico-social action in the region, to express their discontent and their concerns.

Brutal management in associations

“We are demanding better working conditions, an increase in wages, the maintenance of Ségur but also better recognition… Finally, it is vital today, we also demand an immediate end you management brutal at work in numerous associative structures,” explains Sophie Vidalinstructor-educator for the Unapei 34 association and CGT union delegate.

Provisions for the Prud'Hommes

Embracing this very sensitive subject, the instructor-educator describes a deleterious atmosphere within Unapei, undoubtedly the largest association in Hérault with more than 800 employees: “ Management mistreats employees “, she assures: “the brutal management put in place by the general director in certain departments causes a fairly high turnover which reaches 50% in establishments. And to finance this humanly disastrous policy, the association has provided €500,000 to pay the Industrial Court.

“Today, we have colleagues who must intervene with people in precariousness even though they themselves have entered precariousness”

“It is all the more scandalous because it is public money entrusted to Unapei by the Department of Hérault”, she continues: “This is one of the reasons for our presence today in front of the doors of the Department: the community must intervene in this brutal management and hold Unapei accountable . » Like many professionals in the social and medico-social sector, she can no longer tolerate deception in terms of speech and method. “While we have many collaborators paid the minimum wageespecially young people, and we are refused salary increases, the Director General benefited from an increase of 600 points, or a little more than 2200 euros per month “, she laments: “And at the same time, we have no longer received Ségur bonuses since January 1 because the State no longer finances them.”

More and more precarious people

Gerald VerrierCGT union delegate for the association Sayingsanother major social player in the department, confirms that the sector is sick, weakened by various deficiencies and lack of resources. “Budgets are stagnating, as are staff numbers when they are not decreasing, except that we are dealing to more and more people in difficulty. In the end, we are asking employees in the sector to do more and better but with less.”

According to him, working effectively in these conditions has become impossible: “We are in a distressing period: today, we have colleagues who must intervene with people in precarious circumstances. while they themselves have entered precariousness “. The trade unionist does not see the future in a very positive way, believing that the disengagement of the State which admits to being financially burdened will increase.

Social centers under threat?

“For the first time in the social and medico-social sector, we are hearing about partner planL. We've never seen this before! », he laments: “This is the case with Adages. We will know more in the coming weeks, but two social centers, mon has Béziers to Devèze and the other in Montpellier at the Silver Cross would be threatened… This concerns around forty employees but I'll let you imagine the consequences of such a decision for the families and young people that we welcome and support in these establishments.

Cold with Kleber Mesquida

In this more than tense context, the strikers ask the Department of Hérault and the State to “stick their noses in a little” in management and operation associations that receive public money to ensure the missions of the social and medico-social sector. But the strikers do not seem to have any illusions: “ Kleber Mesquidathe president of the Department, never receives us. He despises us,” they assure. Resentment is strong. The strikers, this Thursday, renamed the president of the Department, who does not seem to want to open the purse strings, to Kleber “Mesquina”.

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