(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL (September) - Gard:
Transport stopped, running fight (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
Gard has experienced a major strike in April in intercity transport. At issue: salaries.
Back on this movement that shows the strength of solidarity. ---- In April, at Nîmes in a
road transport company Transdev managed by travelers, the wage earners have twenty-two
days of strike for a wage increase. As so often, it is the failure of mandatory annual
negotiations (NAO) that is causing the conflict. Management of the Corporation Gard
transport (STDG) refers to the need not to increase salaries for five years to maintain
its "competitiveness" and calling by mail each of wage earners 200 to their responsibility
not to strike. ---- On April 27, the strike starts and will last... to win "something".
The strike days will be punctuated by holding the picket, a protest outside public places
(bus station Prefecture, General Council)... Twenty-two days of strike is long and
difficult for the strikers, there will immediate support from Solidaires Transport and
different departmental unions CGT and Solidaires.
From the second week, South makes public the fact that the company is not penalized
because the DSP contract provides that it may continue to receive government subsidies
during the strike. It was from the third week of a strike a mediator appears and the boss
STDG will propose a salary increase equal to 0.6%. At the same time, management does not
hesitate to drag the employees on trial for obstructing the freedom of work. Management
will be dismissed given the little evidence it has been able to present... Finally, on May
18, when a new mediation meeting, an agreement was found and offered to strikers who
decide to accept: 0.6 % increase, a bonus of 300 euros and two days of paid strike.
What assessment of the strike? On the positive side, the strike was massive, there was
bargaining unit, daily animation movement was significant, with debates where each
employee-ea could listen and give advice on topics that are usually reserved for
"delegates ". Discussions for understanding that governments relinquish their powers to
large private groups turned to the search for more profits.
Solidarity against capital
Solidarity has been effective, the wage earners have benefited from an inter support:
Solidarity Gard, Union Solidarity Transport, South Education, Gard CGT, FSU, and some
political organizations: AL, NPA, PG. On the negative side, despite the presence of Sud
and CGT in the urban transport company of Nimes, any statement or expression of solidarity
with the strikers STDG could not be established.
The new NAO will take place next year and management have the same litany: no inflation,
no increase in price. So no need to increase salaries to keep competitiveness.
Yet the benefits of large groups are increasing, often aided by public funds, such as the
IECC or through public service delegation contracts.
It is our political and trade union organizations, to maintain the mobilization and
explain to wage earners that manage public transport cooperative is possible.
François (AL Gard)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Gard-Transports-a-l-arret-lutte-en
