The president of the Federation of Solidarity Actors, Pascal Brice, believes Tuesday, November 15 on franceinfo that it is necessary “salary recognition” for the listeners of the Samu social, who mobilize all day through open doors, walkouts and rallies. They claim in particular to receive the Ségur bonus, like other social workers and nursing staff.
franceinfo: Listeners at 115 talk about difficult conditions, how does this translate into everyday life?
Pascal Brice: This means that they are women and men who, every day, listen to people and families on the street, often with the possibility of unblocking situations, but very often also the obligation to explain to people that there is no solution, because there is still a lack of accommodation places in the country. These are the conditions that are extremely painful, difficult. I was recently told at 115 in Bordeaux: “After a week, all those who have started their work go down the hall crying”because it is a difficult job.
“There is really a question of recognition that is asked, especially in terms of salary. You are at around 1,500 euros per month.”
Pascal Brice, President of the Federation of Solidarity Actorsat franceinfo
What the listeners of 115 also want to emphasize today with their movement is the need for emergency accommodation and social support in this country. The government has partly heard us by not reducing the places a little more [d’hébergement] in the country, but every evening you have at least 6,000 people, including 2,000 children, who are on the street.
Is there, therefore, a lack of listeners?
Today, the 115 have the greatest difficulty in recruiting, which is a reality common to all of social work. You have trades that are essential to the cohesion of the country, to supporting people in poverty, women victims of violence, people on the street, but difficult and very poorly paid. So, we have a real problem in this country of crisis of attractiveness in social work and in particular for listening to 115.
What are listeners asking for?
The main thing is to benefit from these so-called Ségur bonuses, which fortunately benefited most of the nursing staff and a certain number of social workers. But the listeners of 115, like others in medico-social work, have been forgotten. They ask to benefit from these bonuses of 183 euros per month. They also ask for a revision of collective agreements, an improvement in career prospects, as well as a promotion, a defense, an enhancement of these professions to the height of their social utility.
We have an indication of a response. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne was attentive, the Minister of Housing too. Now, we are waiting for actions, which are quite simply that this monthly bonus also benefits the listeners of 115 as well as all the social workers in this country.
Are you concerned that there is a feeling of double treatment between caregivers and social workers?
Yes. It is really necessary that, for the cohesion of the country, we have an upgrading which also benefits these categories of social workers, in particular the listeners of the 115, who have had no other solution today than to hold door days open, because they want to publicize their profession, but also in some cases forms of strikes. They take calls for people who are victims of violence, but in some cases they are forced to go on strike, and I can tell you that for them it’s a decision full of meaning.