(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #251 - Cleaning:
Breaking the chains of subcontracting (fr, it, pt) [machine
translation]
Two-month strike: that is what it took to wage earners of the company TFN-Atalian,
cleaning company involved for management of public finances in Paris, to give their boss
and enforce labor law. ---- On May 11, the invisible workers of public finances have ended
a strike that began on March 11: These women hired by TFN-Atalian company that regional
management of public finances in Paris delegates the management of the cleanliness of the
premises, rebelled against working conditions and remuneration unacceptable. ---- If the
strike began on March 11, employees started negotiations with TFN since November: two
collective claims letters were sent to the direction between November and March, with no
response from that company which employs 65 000 people 16 countries and generated sales of
over one billion euros in 2014. So it's a strike!
The demands of the employees involved primarily working conditions. They exigaient first
contracts of at least sixteen hours a week instead of contracts to ten to fifteen hours a
week today. In addition to increased compensation, overtime would reduce slightly the
rates and preserve the health of workers: female employees must clean 1400 m2 per day,
which is huge, especially since the hardware is defective and insufficient. It must be
said that even in "good conditions", making use of work remains physically: stooped
posture, exposure to toxic cleaning products in the long term, repetitive... But this
hardship is hardly visible, not least because the employees are women, little unionized
and we associate the hardship rather to factory work or outdoors.
Sprains to the Labour Code
Other claims were aimed at improving the living standards of employees: besides the
thirteenth month, strikers want the employer participates for 50% shipping charges as the
law requires, that gives them access to vocational training and take part in the financing
of the additional insurance. Finally it is to say stop to the numerous breaches in the
labor performed by the company Code, including the non-recognition of seniority, payment
of replacement premiums instead of paying overtime, replacement strikers by temporary, or
undue warning to an employee.
They are supported by an inter-union (Solidarity, CGT, FO) which launched a petition of
support and asked for an appointment with the regional management of public finances
(DRFIP) and the purchasing departments of the state (SAE). SAE DRFIP and do not get wet,
say they are "not competent" and return the strikers to the regional prefecture. The Chief
of Staff of the prefect, by the strikers met on April 27 refused to hear their claims,
denying their remarks on irregularities practiced by TFN and demanding proof. She was
careful not to make commitments to pressure the company to reopen negotiations.
From April 10, TFN agreed to accept certain demands: withdrawal of the warning,
reimbursement of transportation costs, providing tailored work clothes, payment for extra
hours. Then, on 11 May, wage earners have pulled off a number of other issues, including:
withdrawal of the mobility clause, two CDD transformed into CDI transition to sixteen
hours of work a week for seven wage earners, premium reclamation of the sites payment
equal to 60% of strike days, withdrawal of a sanction against an employee of the 13th
district.
Beyond the claims satisfied, the employee-es welcomed the solidarity born without flaw of
the movement. A solidarity which also causes them to continue to claim the sixteen hours
and the thirteenth month for everyone.
Auréline (AL Toulouse)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Nettoyage-Briser-les-chaines-de-la
