Thousands of Guadeloupeans plunged into darkness. The social conflict between the CGT and EDF hardened on Friday in Guadeloupe, causing very long power cuts and pushing the leaders of the archipelago to speak up to ask the parties to find common ground.
For Guy Losbar, president of the department, it is necessary “to quickly find an agreement which puts an end to this crisis situation”. For his part, Ary Chalus, president of the region, “urged” the union and the energy company to resume “emergency negotiations” to end the strike, which concerns wage demands. “This situation cannot last”, added the prefect, calling “for the immediate finalization of discussions” to put an end to cuts “likely to compromise the safety of people and seriously harm economic activity”.
Exasperation
Exasperation is mounting in the population and on the side of businesses, subject to power cuts lasting several hours due to a total cessation of activity at the largest power station on the island. Power cuts are organized to avoid blackouts, which also cause water cuts. “Up to 90,000 customers could be impacted,” indicates EDF SEI, subsidiary network manager.
A petition is circulating on social networks, and calls to demonstrate in front of the plant affected by the strike have been launched. The strike, which has been going on since the end of December, pits the energy branch of CGT Guadeloupe against the management of EDF PEI, an electricity production subsidiary. The origin of the conflict lies in breaches in respect of the Labor Code, rectified in a draft agreement of which AFP has taken note.
Demands of the strikers
A sticking point remains. It relates in particular to “the catch-up of pension contributions, to be paid into the right fund, for requalified contracts”, according to Jimmy Télémaque, secretary general of the energy branch of CGTG-Guadeloupe.
The union also mentions wage increases, which the management refuses, citing the efforts already made in this area. The company attributes the blockage to “only five continuous strikers”. She says she is filing a complaint for defamation because of a “link established” by the union “between the working conditions and the diabetes” of certain agents.
In the draft end-of-conflict protocol consulted by AFP is a proposal for “payment of a lump sum, global and exceptional compensation”, formulated “at the request of the Minister of Overseas”.