Ligne d’Azur Management has been facing an internal crisis for several months. Recently, complaints of moral harassment and a wave of suspensions have affected the transport services of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropolis. The numerous suspicions coupled with a lack of communication continue to mire the crisis.
Things are no longer well within the Ligne d’Azur Management (RLA) following numerous revelations in the press. Complaints have been filed for moral harassment, notably before the prosecutor of the Republic of Nice. Reports have been made regarding potential financial irregularities. The atmosphere within the transport management continues to deteriorate.
The suspicion of financial misconduct has cast doubt on the reality of the activities of certain executives and the regularity of public funds. Embezzlement of public funds is suspected with high accumulations of delegation hours.
The social climate is also marked by a breakdown of trust between employees and management. This mistrust is manifested through numerous social movements organized by the unions Sud Solidaires and the French Confederation of Christian Workers of the RLA, since the beginning of July. This trust is also being tested by the suspensions of several employees and executives, who claim to be victims of retaliation after reporting irregularities within the organization.
Dialogue between management and employees appears to be at an impasse.
A contested version from management
In an article by Nice-Matin from yesterday, Monday August 24, Bertrand Gasiglia, president of the RLA, dismissed the alleged retaliatory measures against employees who claim to be whistleblowers: « there is no witch hunt. The only dismissal procedure within my direct responsibility concerns the general director », he declared.
The president of Ligne d’Azur Management referred to the precautionary suspension of general director Julie Réti in early July. In a statement published on his social networks on Sunday, he stated that « difficulties appeared in the functioning of the general director. »
This « removal » occurred, however, in a context of tension within the management. « Ms. Réti had raised an alert regarding legally incorrect contracts », explained Stéphane Champoussin, the Sud Solidaires union delegate of the RLA. Julie Réti notably denounced « political reprisals » following her alerts.
Yet, the president of the RLA remains inflexible, stating that he has « not been made aware » of her actions, even though she had been in office since 2025, to correct any possible violations.
The Sud Solidaires union delegate strongly contests this version from management: « Mr. Gasiglia cannot say he was unaware of the positions of certain executives » since his taking office coincides with the first alerts raised by the suspended general director. For his part, the CFTC union delegate, Jean-Thomas Capriglione, denounces an exorbitant social and financial cost: « Every time someone sticks their neck out, it gets cut off! »
The president of the Management would have thus been informed of contractual anomalies as soon as he took office.
A need for transparency
In his communication, the president of the RLA stated that he had commissioned several internal audits « in order to have a complete, objective and documented view of the situation at the management », at the express request of Éric Ciotti.
In the meantime, the unions want the transmission of the conclusions of these audits to clarify the veracity of the suspicions mentioned in the press. The Sud Solidaires union delegate expressed surprise at the extent of delegation hours and accumulated leave by certain executives. He did not hide having had some suspicions of irregular practices, but he would never have suspected that the figures would be so high.
For now, several state authorities have been contacted given the seriousness of the crisis affecting Ligne d’Azur Management. The departmental labor inspection has been alerted about complaints of moral harassment and « retaliatory measures. » The general directorate of economy, employment, work and solidarity has been warned of a « grave and imminent danger » to an employee’s life.
Furthermore, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes has been contacted by the suspended general director, Julie Réti, regarding « serious violations of her statutory guarantees and political reprisals following her repeated alerts concerning irregular management of public funds of the management. » Finally, Stéphane Champoussin mentioned his intention to write to the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes so that he would look into these practices.
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