French postal unions are planning a national strike at the beginning of June to protest againstLa Poste’s restructuring, job losses and workload.
The joint declaration from CGT, Sud-PTT, CFDT, FO and CFTC follows recent postal strikesacross France, including in Paris, Rennes and Hauts-de-Seine.
“After the transformation of La Poste into a public limited company, the pace of restructuringand jobs cuts is increasing,” the unions stated in the declaration after a joint meeting on 23April.
In their declaration, the unions are demanding an end to the restructuring that results in joblosses, lower quality of service and public service missions (accessibility, confidentiality,proximity and reliability). They also want to stop outsourcing of certain activities emphasisingthe unity and continuity of La Poste group and its jobs. Further claims include improving livingand working conditions and health and the recognition of difficult tasks and psychosocialrisks.
In addition, the unions ask for an improvement in purchasing power and salaries and a betterredistribution of wealth among postal workers, jobs and public service. Other demands includerespect of personal rights of employees, integral payment of extra working hours and the respecttowards unions’ freedom. The unions reaffirmed their commitment to the multiplex pension system andmaintaining the right and interests of all postal workers in terms of pension-related issues.
To put their claims through, they called on the postal staff to expand the ongoing industrialaction turning it into a national strike day in the beginning of June.
The unions explained that workers suffer during work due to increasing workload and pressurefrom the management at all levels as no dialogue with the leadership is possible. “Trade unionsexpressing discomfort and demands on behalf of workers are not being listened to and heard by themanagement that is convinced of the need to accelerate productivity gains at the expense of LaPoste employees.” The unions claim that such a policy increases suffering at work and constantstress leading to human tragedies. In terms of work life, La Poste is responsible for the physicaland mental health of its staff, the declaration stated.
The declaration added that lower costs are generated at the expense of the employees in allcategories that are affected by the job cuts while the unions don’t have the right to intervene inthe strategic decisions of La Poste.
