With more than 1,000 deaths per year, France is the European Union country with the most accidents and deaths at work. In Paris, eight people died at work in 2022. Figures taken seriously by the city which pays tribute for the first time this Friday, April 28 to the victims of accidents at work and occupational diseases, by unveiling a plaque dedicated to the Stock Exchange work.
The initiative follows the vote last November of a deliberation at the initiative of the communist group (in the context of a “niche”, on the model of a parliamentary niche), following which the city s is committed to a “zero death at work” objective. The text provided in particular to organize every year “a commemoration in front of the Paris Labor Exchange in honor of those who died at work or following an accident at work and in the voluntary districts”.
Last of a rope
But it intervenes especially following several deaths of workers on the construction site of the Grand Paris Express, which place the capital under obscure headlights. “It seems important that the City of Paris demonstrates its support for a social cause that has been fairly forgotten in public debate,” said Laurence Patrice, deputy mayor of Paris in charge of memory, who added that “accidents at work concern the first of the rope, who are often the last of the rope when it comes to recognizing their rights. “We normalize the fact that people can lose their life trying to earn it. This moment of memory shows that there are accident-prone work organizations, ”adds Barbara Gomes, adviser to the Communist and Citizen Group.
Associated with the work that led to the deliberation “Paris, an exemplary city on safety at work”, the CGT welcomes this commemoration, which it believes will help to release the workers who died in the construction sites from their anonymity. “Paris is the first city to do this work,” rejoices Philippe Gaborieau, federal secretary at the CGT.
The Olympic Games site charter as a model
The CGT wants above all to push Paris to adopt an ambitious social charter: “We started from the charter of the Olympic Games, imposed by Bernard Thibault [ex-secrétaire général de la CGT]. We put everything that was missing in the Olympic Games charter, such as the creation of a national observatory, ”says Bruno Bothua, secretary general of the FNSCBA, which federates construction employees. The secretary general wants in particular to reduce subcontracting and allow staff representatives unannounced visits to construction sites, which according to him has allowed the work of the Olympic Games to be safer than that of the Grand Paris Express.
According to the office of Afaf Gabelotaud, the deputy mayor in charge of businesses, a committee of editors is being set up, with the aim of having the charter signed at the start of the 2023 school year. The office specifies that this charter will not have a binding value: “We cannot impose, because of the public procurement code, on companies to follow this charter. »
“On Scootlib I want a binding clause”
Also at stake is the future of the social law clause promised by the text, which is supposed to favor “socially and ecologically virtuous companies” in public procurement and allow the contract to be terminated in the event of a breach of social law or criminal law. When will it apply and on which public markets? For Nicolas Bonnet-Ouladj, it must be possible to apply it, for example, to the next contracts planned with electric scooter rental companies.
In the end, this commemoration day appears for the elected Communists, on the initiative, as a good time to encourage other communities, parliamentarians, mayors, etc. to “get back to that job”. “We hope for a ripple effect, and that this inspires the legislative power”, comments Barbara Gomes. Who adds: “The idea that a community sticks its nose in labor law is revolutionary. Normally it’s the sole decision of the employer, so it’s something strong. »