Demonstrators block the main entrance to Hotel de la Collectivité on Wednesday with placards and a rubbish bin during the strike called by the UTC and UGTG unions in support of CTOS workers.
MARIGOT–Employees of Caisse Territorial des Oeuvres Scolaires (CTOS) and the Collectivité demonstrated outside Hotel de la Collectivité on Wednesday from early morning in a continuation of strike action that began in November and resulted in a blockade of the Central Kitchen in December 2018.
Yesterday’s renewed strike action was led by Union des Travailleurs de Collectivités (UTC) and Union Generale des Travailleurs de Guadeloupe (UGTG). One of the main grievances is the termination and non-renewal of 16 fixed staff contracts on November 23, 2018, when employees concerned were informed by letter. Those employees still continued to work without pay, according to the union.
CTOS President Pascale Alix-Laborde justified the termination of those contracts due to CTOS’ “disastrous financial situation” and the order from the Territorial Accounting Chamber to reduce employee expenses.
Laborde said paying 225 titled agents, 56 animators, in addition to social charges amounted to 11 million euros annually. She assured parents there is still a sufficient number of employees to produce the daily school meals, but there must be a reorganisation of staff and schedules, and a concerted effort on reducing food wastage.
Aside from the terminated contracts, the unions list a total of 18 grievances that have been submitted to the Collectivité. Among these are issues surrounding organisation of afterschool activities, payment increase of indemnities for 2017, guarantees for internal promotion and upgrading of agents, validation of professional experience, etc. It also says four protocols signed with the Collectivité from 2010 are not being respected.
Later in the day the Collectivité reported that negotiations were still ongoing and that it would not issue a press release that day. President Gibbs received a delegation from the unions with CTOS President Pascale Alix-Laborde. The Collectivité further noted that access to Hotel de la Collectivité had been hampered by demonstrators and that a strong glue had been applied to locks on doors.
The unions have vowed to continue the strike action until they get satisfaction on the 18 points.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84859-no-immediate-answers-as-ctos-union-locked-in-negotiations-with-collectivite
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