Faced with a strike by agents from the city’s building management service, the town hall of Lyon (Rhône) decided on Tuesday to requisition agents to restore heating in schools and nurseries. The movement, well followed since the start of the school year on Monday, is led by the CGT and affects primary schools in particular.
The agents should have put the heating into service in the buildings of the city “for several days and this, even when they were in service”, estimates the city of Lyon in a press release, which reports an exchange Tuesday morning with the strikers.
“Demonstrate responsibility”
“They have (…) been asked to show responsibility when the temperatures recorded are particularly low in certain classes and early childhood sections”, continues the town hall in a press release, deploring that the decision of the strikers to maintain their movement. For its part, the CGT indicates that the strike notice had been filed in mid-October. And the opening of the heaters shifted from November 1 to 7 in view of the temperatures, which are mild for the season.
“The agents thought that three weeks would make it possible to reach a compromise”, underlines Frédérique Michaud, CGT representative of the staff of the city of Lyon. The last meeting on Monday resulted in an “end of non-receipt” from the town hall.
Heating engineers and electricians are asking for a salary increase of 200 euros in order to enhance their diplomas, while the salary difference is 30% with the private sector, as well as “full staff”, explains the trade unionist.
10°C in classrooms
The Snudi-FO 69 union, which brings together school principals, teachers and other primary school staff, has for its part reported temperatures that can drop to 10°C in classrooms in the morning.
“Is this a suitable temperature? “Asks the union in a press release, calling on the town hall to “receive the striking personnel and satisfy their demands as soon as possible”.
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“There is a serious risk to the health and safety of children and additional hardship for families. If any strike movement is legitimate, it cannot be to the detriment of the health of the most vulnerable, ”reacted the ecological mayor of the city Grégory Doucet.
“We fully understand that people are outraged, but the mayor had three weeks to be able to negotiate”, replies Frédérique Michaud, who speaks of “last resort” to influence the discussion.