After a week of strike, the employees of the Tondu de Floirac clinic “determined” to “not let go”

Their banners are unfurled for more than a week. On October 25, the hospital services officers (ASH) of the Tondu clinic in Floirac
went on strike. Very quickly joined by paramedics, nurses, stretcher-bearers, administrative staff and even medical secretaries, they demanded salary increases and recruitment. 400 operations, i.e. almost all of those scheduled in the establishment except vital emergencieshave been postponed since the beginning of the movement.

“It’s really a hassle at the staff level, at the financial level”explains Sylvie Brenot, ASH at the Tondu clinic for four years. “We are really at the lowest, since we win the SMIC. We claim 300 euros” net additional per month “at least”she adds. “We often think that the private, for-profit sector pays better. Unfortunately not, because behind it are the shareholders who are filling their pockets”, adds Marie, a nurse. Excluding premium, “my basic gross salary is 1,790 euros, which makes a net salary of less than 1,400 euros”specifies the one who “did three years of study”.

Marie estimates that her salary is “miserable in relation to the working conditions, the workload and the responsibilities behind it. We are asked to work overtime, we are willing so we come to work extra days on our working hours. rest. But we have no thanks, no consideration. It also happens very often that there is a lack of personnel and that we find ourselves alone…” details the nurse, who affirms that “we should be paid double for double workload, quite simply”.

Strikers ready to continue the movement

Joined by France Bleu Gironde, the management recalls in a press release that “The private sector, like the public sector, is going through a complex period in terms of recruitment” and claims to deploy “the possible means at its level to create favorable conditions for a way out of the crisis as soon as possible”. But if “proposals have been made” recently “to the representatives of the personnel on strike”, she “cannot consider contenting today” Requirement increase of 300 euros in net salary formulated by the strikers.

“At least they communicate”believes staff representative Cathy Forment. “They didn’t break the thread. We met them three times, with different staff: ASH, nurses, nursing assistants, administrative … who were able to explain to the CEO and the director what they had on the heart”. But “staff can’t be satisfied” including proposals for base salary increases, considered insufficient. “The inflation, the harsh conditions, the recruitment that they can’t do… Of course the strikers remain on their positions”adds Cathy Forment.

Interested parties say to themselves ready to continue their movement. “Even if it will result in a loss of salary, I am really determined”says Marie, the nurse. “We know that there will be breakage in terms of salary, but we have to hold on”, adds ASH Sylvie Brenot. The direction “must have said to themselves ‘they are going to let go’, but as we are united, we believe in it strongly. We will go all the way!”she concludes.