Gendarmes in riot gear guard the entrances to Hotel de La Collectivité on Tuesday morning. (Robert Luckock photo)
MARIGOT--Demonstrators supporting the Caisse Territorial des Oeuvres (CTOS) strike barricaded the entrances to Hotel de La Collectivité from 6:00am Tuesday morning, in signs of escalating tension as the strike entered the thirteenth day with no settlement reached between unions and the Collectivité.
Gendarmes responded swiftly to remove barricades. For the first time, armed Gendarmes in riot gear carrying shields were seen guarding the entrances to the building as demonstrators in a jubilant mood stood outside singing and clapping. It was unclear if any access was allowed into the building for any non-striking employees, however, many, including heads of departments, were seen waiting outside the building.
Lt. Col Sébastien Manzoni said there had been no arrests for public disorder although there were some unconfirmed early reports of pushing and shoving between demonstrators and Gendarmes. Gendarmes have been acting with restraint since the beginning. Up until 9:00am there was no sign of Préfète Sylvie Feucher or President Daniel Gibbs on site.
A fire broke out in an abandoned building lower down from Hotel de la Collectivité on Rue Victor Maurasse, which was quickly put out by the Fire Brigade. A bystander said she had seen someone deliberately start the fire. It was not known if the fire had any connection to the strike to cause a diversion.
Despite President Gibb’s assurance that the Collectivité services are working diligently on the grievances presented by Union des Travailleurs de la Collectivité and Union General des Trvailleurs de Guadeloupe (UTC-UGTG), the deadlock between the two sides continues and negotiations have been put on hold. On Saturday, Gibbs informed the union that CTOS cannot undertake any new hiring due to the financial situation of CTOS and the Collectivité.
The principle cause of the strike is the termination of 16 CTOS employee contracts, however, there are a total of 18 grievances that have been submitted by the union that they want rectified. The Collectivité is struggling to restore the financial situation of the CTOS that has been heavily in debt since 2017, and stated harsh measures had to be taken.
Said UTC-UGTG spokesperson Nicole White: “We are still not satisfied and that’s why we are standing firm and strong again today. Since we started this protest, we have not received any kind of results since January 15. All we are demanding is our rights and respect as workers. We are fighting for 16 workers from the CTOS and 17 from the Collectivité, but in fact it’s about the rights of 75 workers.
“We are also protesting about the second point on our list, which is the career reviews and nothing has been done at all for those workers. And where the after-school activities are concerned for the kids, there is one Collectivité employee looking after 150-160 kids. That’s far too much and we want that service reorganized. We are also asking for our bonus. Since 2010 we signed a protocol stating our bonus would be given to us. The Collectivité started giving it to us, but not the increases and years went by so that money from the missing years is owed to us.”
Territorial Councillor for the Opposition Jules Charville, who was observing the protest commented: “Both sides are playing hardball and that’s what we are seeing this morning. But I believe the Collectivité could find the money to increase the CTOS budget to get out of this predicament. It was done for the tourism office. At least try to meet the workers half way.”
A second meeting with the union delegation to try and break the deadlock is scheduled for this morning in the Préfecture.
