WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE FRANCE - news journal UPDATE - (en) France, UCL AL #368 - Unionism - Layoff Plan at AIDES: "This conflict stems from an austerity policy" (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 The employers at the AIDES association have unveiled a layoff plan. Employees are mobilizing, targeting government austerity measures. Interview with Célia, a striker. ---- Where does your anger come from today? How did you experience the announcement of the Job Protection Plan (PSE), and at what point did you realize the need for collective action? ---- The anger stems from a dysfunctional political and labor system. Confusion and misinformation reign within AIDES. Even if some announcements may have suggested otherwise, the announcement of the PSE was not a surprise: suspicious layoffs, office consolidations-everything foreshadowed this outcome. Mobilization was hampered by emotional reactions. A period of discussion and reassurance was necessary before moving to collective action. The redundancy plan will exacerbate understaffing and job insecurity, leading to a decline in the quality of access to care and rights. This conflict is part of a broader crisis in the health and social care sector stemming from austerity policies that prioritize the military.

You're not a union member, so why did you still take part in the struggle? Why is there so little union membership in the social care sector?

Despite a critical view of unions, they remain a lever for creating mobilization. Low union membership is explained by a lack of understanding of how unions operate, sometimes perceived as sectarian, but also by the emotional exhaustion inherent in the social care sector. The State makes the political choice to abandon certain populations; social care is a band-aid for these irresponsibilities. Employees are often caught up in a logic of "better support" and sometimes even in a "savior" role. But imploding the system from within could pave the way for something else.

How did the mobilization take shape? Was there a national dynamic?

The mobilization was traditionally organized through the SUD Santé-Sociaux union, the Social and Economic Committee, and general assemblies. An initial picket line and a day of strike action helped establish a balance of power, followed by a second picket line on December 4th in Pantin at the end of negotiations. There was a regional dynamic, particularly with the strike days of December 16th, 17th, and 18th, fostering convergence between sectors. At the national level, some regions were mobilized, but without a sense of unified momentum. In parallel, autonomous groups and an intersectoral mobilization committee emerged. This prompted questions about activist strategies, the difficulty of scaling up the movement, and a rethinking of how to reassure and mobilize colleagues.

How did you experience the local mobilization, and what limitations did you draw from it?

The mobilization was invigorating, bringing hope and opportunities for connection. The picket line on December 16th was strong, but the demonstration itself was weaker, a partial failure. At AIDES, the mobilization came late. In the healthcare and social services sector, the limitations remain a lack of resources, exhaustion, precarious employment, and the cost of mobilization, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth regarding the difficulty of achieving mass mobilization.

Interview by Malika (UCL PNE)

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Plan-de-licenciement-a-AIDES-Ce-conflit-decoule-d-une-politique-d-austerite
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Link: 

(en) France, UCL AL #368 - Unionism - Layoff Plan at AIDES: "This conflict stems from an austerity policy" (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca