The threat was carried out. The CGT, dissatisfied with the state of social dialogue, will file strike notices at the beginning of April in the three public functions for the period covering the Olympic Games (July 26-August 11) in Paris. This was confirmed this Thursday, March 7, by its general secretary, Sophie Binet.
“We want the government to immediately take measures to ensure the success of the Games, for which the CGT has been working for years. To do this, our warnings must finally be heard and the Games must be prepared from a social point of view” , declared Sophie Binet on franceinfo. “We have been repeating the same thing for months and no one cares,” continued the number one of the CGT. “The Games are hundreds of thousands of workers who are affected,” explained the union leader.
On Tuesday, the CGT had “sounded the alarm” and asked the Prime Minister that “a round table be organized quickly” to meet the expectations of employees who will be affected by the organization of the Paris Olympic Games this summer. “Almost all of the Ile-de-France employees will be impacted more or less directly, as well as many employees from other territories hosting the JOP (Olympic and Paralympic Games), starting with Marseille and Lille,” wrote Sophie. Binet in a letter addressed to Gabriel Attal and his Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera, of which AFP obtained a copy. Sunday, on LCI, the general secretary of the CGT gave “a red card to the government”, estimating that the “social preparation” for the Olympic Games was broken down less than five months before the sporting event.
A strike notice already filed with the RATP
At the RATP, the CGT, unhappy with the salary measures, filed this strike notice on February 5 until the end of the Paralympic Games, which will end on September 8. While unions and management are engaged in compulsory annual negotiations (NAO) and discussions on possible bonuses during the summer sporting events in Paris, the CGT-RATP noted a “disagreement”, in a letter sent to the CEO Jean Castex.
Although they have not filed a strike notice, municipal police officers are counting on the arrival of the Olympic Games, during which they will be on the front line to replace the police mobilized in the cities hosting the events. , to put pressure on the government. On Tuesday, more than a hundred municipal police officers gathered in Paris to demand better recognition of their work, as well as an increase in pay and pensions.
Estanguet wants a social “truce” during the Olympics
At the call of several unions (CGT, CFTC, CFDT, etc.), several hundred “angry municipal workers” gathered peacefully at the foot of the Montparnasse Tower. The agents want the “police” bonus (ISMF or special monthly police duty allowance) to be made compulsory, which can represent up to several hundred euros per month. They also want it to be increased to 25% of the basic salary and included in the calculation of retirement, as is the case for professional firefighters with the “fire bonus”. They also ask for a move to a higher category as well as a year of bonus for retirement every five years.
A bonus of up to 1,900 euros was also announced on January 30 by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin for police officers and gendarmes working in Ile-de-France. But the question is not completely resolved in many other sectors, such as transport, hotels or restaurants. At the SNCF, “management is just starting to talk about bonuses but there are no negotiations”, regrets Boris Plazzi, confederal secretary of the CGT in charge of the Olympics.
These threats of agitated strikes in several sectors worry Tony Estanguet. On February 28, the president of the organizing committee for the Paris Olympic Games said he wanted a social “truce” during the Olympics. “I want us to welcome the world in the best conditions and not spoil the party,” he declared on France 2.
But some political leaders don’t see it that way. The threat of social conflict disrupting the smooth running of the Olympics was notably raised by the leader of LFI deputies Mathilde Panot in mid-February. She actually encouraged the French to strike before and during the Olympic Games against a government “which only listens to the balance of power”. “I’m not completely surprised, the Olympic Games are an incredible platform,” said Tony Estanguet.