At the Feyzin refinery (Rhône)
On the bridge over the A7 motorway and leading to the entrance to the Feyzin refinery (Rhône), around forty demonstrators, CGT vests on their backs, are gathered at lunchtime. There are the “BioMérieux” or “the Kem One” who came to support the friends. But above all, the “Total” on strike since September 27th.
While the smells of merguez evaporate in the atmosphere to mingle with the smoke from the barbecue, the group discusses happily. But with conviction. Below, the heavy goods vehicles, parading on the highway, honk their horns to greet the waved flags. A few cars also encourage the strikers, while 500 meters further on, the queue lengthens in front of the entrance to the only station still in service in the area.
This time, the sounds of horns turn out to be much more aggressive, betraying the exasperation of motorists blocked by those who are waiting to fill up with petrol or diesel and who are obstructing the only lane of traffic. “It’s normal for them to be angry, but the goal is not to annoy people,” replies shyly Xavier, 52 years old and 27 years of career in the “expedition service”. A bit embarrassed, the man shrugs. “Of course, people grumble but we do it for them. And we fight with the means we have”.
“With 2,400 euros net, we are far from the 5,000 euros mentioned by management”
Here, the “lever” of action is “the essence”. “We have been trying to discuss with management for months. Since March, we have been asking for the opening of negotiations but we have decided against it. There, the cup is full,” says Yvan, 43, a packet of rolling tobacco in his hand. An outside operator for 12 years, the employee in work clothes came to join his colleagues for a cigarette break. “I am on strike but I am requisitioned because my position is related to security”, he specifies.
“For years, we have been understaffed. The facilities are poorly maintained or not repaired, plague Xavier. There aren’t enough of us to do the 4 hour round in the morning. And we would like our salaries to increase by 10% to match inflation. “His remuneration? “2,400 euros net excluding tax”, he replies bluntly. And to add with a bitter smile: “We are a long way from the 5,000 euros mentioned by management. »
Olivier Mercier, firefighter at the Feyzin refinery, earns 800 euros more per month. “Premiums included,” he insists. We must take into account the fact that we work shifts, weekends and holidays, and have been doing so for 27 years. Sébastien Saliba, operator and CGT secretary of the Feyzin refinery, pleads for “an exit from the austerity plan which dates from 1983”. “We should return to the indexation of wages to the cost of living. In these cases, there would be no problem paying a pain au chocolat 3 euros. The concern: for 40 years, we have been paying for repeated crises. Neither pensions nor wages follow the rise in prices,” he argues.
“No privilege, no derogation”
While the government threatens to requisition refinery employees, Olivier says he is determined to continue the movement “as long as management has not moved an ear”. “We don’t particularly enjoy going on strike. But at some point, we have to. “, he assures.
A feeling shared by Sébastien Saliba. “We are also the first concerned. Four days ago, I managed to put diesel in my car but I waited 1h30”, says the father of the family. “We have no privileges or exemptions, abounds Yvan. There are still clichés that persist. Some people think that we don’t pay for the fuel or that we can use it directly at the refinery. It’s wrong. Even if we work for an oil group, paradoxically we have the same difficulties filling up as other citizens”. And to conclude: “The shortage, we suffer it like everyone else. »