seventh day of strike at town hall, exchange of letters between the two parties
The seventh day of the municipal agents’ strike in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni was marked by an exchange of letters between the UTG union and the mayor Sophie Charles. While the UTG calls for negotiations, the town hall sets several conditions before any resumption of discussions.
The mobilization of municipal agents of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni enters its seventh day this Tuesday, November 26. Written exchanges between the UTG union, initiator of the movement, and the town hall shed light on the demands and positions of the two parties.
In a letter addressed to Mayor Sophie Charles, the general secretary of the local section of the UTG, Fabien Alaïs, requests the opening of negotiations to resolve this impasse. The union highlights several points of disagreement, including:
Non-compliance with protocols of agreement;
The establishment of the Functions, Suggestions and Expertise Allowance (IFSE);
We are ready to start dialogue to resolve this conflict
affirms Fabien Alaïs, insisting on the availability of the union to find a favorable outcome.
In her response dated Tuesday, November 26, Sophie Charles sets out the conditions necessary for a possible resumption of discussions. Structured in seven points, his letter highlights in particular:
Clarification on the use of ASAs: The mayor questions the use of Special Absence Authorizations (ASAs) by certain union representatives, affirming that they are incompatible with participation in a strike movement.
Validity of the strike notice: Sophie Charles believes that the notice filed in August could be legally inactive due to the lack of immediate mobilization.
New demands: She asks for clarifications on the additions made to the initial demands, particularly concerning career management.
Personal attacks: The mayor demands a public apology for comments and banners that she considers insulting and defamatory.
A meeting can be organized once all the requested conditions have been respected.
writes Sophie Charles, thus conditioning the opening of discussions on strict compliance with the rules set out.
While the union studies the response letter, tension remains palpable on the ground. The strikers remain mobilized in front of municipal buildings, determined to obtain satisfaction for their demands. Fabien Alaïs deplores the tone used in the letter from the town hall, which he describes as “contemptuous”.
The exchange of letters marks an important step in this conflict, but resolution still seems far away. If discussions are planned, they remain conditional on compliance with the rules set by the town hall, which the union perceives as a barrier to dialogue.