“There are drivers who feel unwell”

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“Working more to earn as much is out of the question. » The bus drivers of the Francilité Seine et Oise company were in strikethis Thursday, November 7, 2024.

At the Conflans-Sainte-Honorine depot (Yvelines), none of the 90 drivers worked all day. The majority were on strike, the rest “on sick leave or on vacation”. A identical action blocked the Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône depot (Val-d'Oise), made up of nearly 300 drivers, half of whom are on strike.

“Preserve our social achievements”

Why are these drivers in anger? They fear losing many of their social gains negotiated years ago. This concern follows the creation, on November 10, 2023, of the company Francilité Seine et Oise.

The latter brought together the different companies from the two depots of Yvelines and Val-d'Oise into a single unit, and new calls for tenders were launched. ” They are at a discount . None are profitable, they are all in deficit,” criticizes Ali Belhadi, transport union leader at Force Ouvrière.

“Management is trying to cut its losses by attacking employees and making us lose our social benefits and degrading our working conditions. »

Work more rather than hire

The management of Francilité Seine et Oise wishes to renegotiate company agreements and review the social benefits of employees. “We will find ourselves in the same situation as other colleagues from other depots in the Greater Crown. In Lieusaint, in Seine-et-Marne, they stayed seven weeks on strike. »

“We have 65 services in Conflans, management wants more. The unions have proposed 75, but they tell us no, because they cannot hire ten more drivers. They prefer to increase their working hours, for the same salary and while some have a family life. »

“We are systematically refused our RTTs”

Drivers also widely denounce working conditionswhich continue to deteriorate. “When a platform is crowded, because four buses have not passed, we take everything in our faces,” describes an employee.

“We are tired. This increases the risk of work accidents and sick leave. There are drivers who feel unwell when they get off the bus. »

Another is outraged by the accumulation of rest days. “As soon as we want to take leave or RTT, we are systematically refused, because they explain to us that we are in understaffed … »

A situation which also impacts users, between packed buses, late… “Since the creation of this new entity, it is the fiasco total», Protests Ali Belhadi.

Traffic disrupted until further notice

Is management procrastinating? The legislation works in its favor. After fifteen months, if no new company agreement is signed, Francility Seine et Oise may endunilaterally to those currently in force. Deadline: end of June 2025.

The depot operator, Francilité Seine et Oise, has not responded to requests from 78 actu for the moment. For its part, Île-de-France Mobilités, the parent company, is calling for a back to normal.

“Île-de-France Mobilités condemns the blockages of bus centers and hopes that social dialogue between staff and the operator can resume as quickly as possible so as not to penalize travelers in the long term. We are monitoring the situation carefully. »

On the Île-de-France Mobilités website, it is still indicated: “Traffic interrupted on the entire Cergy-Pontoise Confluence network until further notice . »

“We won’t let it happen”

Short strike notice until May 2025. Some bus drivers have already planned to maintain the walkout until Saturday, November 9.

“It is out of the question to let this happen. They don't listen to us. We are not considered by management. We must open a fair and serious negotiation. If no one has left the two depots, it means there is real unhappiness. »

Users risk having to patientsbefore returning to optimal bus circulation.

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