The representatives of the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions visited the Nice headquarters of the Socialist Party for a friendly meeting, which strongly contrasted with the recent visit of the CGT.
For several days, one or two officers have been patrolling in front of the local headquarters of the Socialist Party of Alpes-Maritimes. “We are under police protection,” says Xavier Garcia, the first departmental secretary. The reason: the recent visit of some CGT members.
“They arrived noisily, forced the door open, and attacked the staff.” The police were not aware of this demonstration. “That’s why we weren’t protected,” declares Xavier Garcia.
Result: one of the employees had “a nervous breakdown”, while the other suffered a damaged eardrum.
However, the atmosphere was more relaxed when the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) came to meet Xavier Garcia. He recalls: “they came in a spirit of dialogue.” The purpose of this meeting: to request a complete rewrite of the El-Khomri law, the labor minister, which continues to be controversial. To that end, the UNSA presented the party’s departmental secretary with a motion “to be passed on to the highest level” to explain the unionists’ dissatisfaction.
The Minister of Labor is “very attentive,” according to Xavier Garcia. “Her office contacted me. We should not hesitate to report what people think to her.” He, who also recently met Emmanuel Macron, continues: “the text should not be distorted. But there needs to be more flexibility for employees.”
Just outside the Socialist Party offices, Jean Dessart, a representative of UNSA Alpes-Maritimes*, complains about the savings planned by the Lignes d’Azur Network: “they are going to cut many services late at night and during off-peak hours during the day.” All operators and all lines will see their service reduced: fewer buses, fewer regular shuttles, or even none at all on Sundays or during school holidays.
Jean Dessart continues to protest, specifically against the reduction of tram service: the last departure will be at 11:10 PM instead of 12:50 AM, from Sunday to Thursday. “For restaurateurs who finish late and don’t have a car, it’s not going to be practical at all.” Not to mention “those who go out late and won’t be able to return. They’ll wander in the city, and it could be dangerous if they are intoxicated.”
The economies achieved by these cuts would be enormous for Lignes d’Azur: more than three million euros over a year.
