Museums beneath stress: in Strasbourg, representatives attempt to make their discomfort heard

They categorical theirs sad because the starting of the 12 months. The territorial representatives of Eurometropolis Strasbourg (EMS) are accountable for museums “on the finish”. After the strike in March and the alliance of the unions (CGT, FO, SUD and UNSA), for the primary time, Museum Evening couldn’t rely on volunteers of receptionists and safety employees in the primary an Alsatian city.

With this lack of volunteers to work from 7pm to midnight on Saturday 18 Could, the director of the Museums, Émilie Girard, introduced a change in work schedules. “It is a service obligation and absences have to be justified in the identical manner as a piece sequence in the course of the day.”she laid out in a memorandum, on which we suggested her.

1. © Open; 2. 3. © Wilfried Rion / Open

So this reorganization, licensed by a framework consideration that was renewed in October 2023, put the representatives in motion to make sure that the occasion would happen. He declares that then “distinctive state of affairs”, a division supervisor might ask his or her brokers to work past their regular hours, for a restricted timetopic – to the supervisor – to tell the overall administration of companies and the territorial social committee.

“Certain we went there,” testifying to Sophie*, a museum employee, “The general public was there, however not our confidence! We function understaffed, under-resourced, with a hierarchy that slowly however absolutely tends in direction of tyranny…

The day after today, an electronic mail from the Director of the Museums, Émilie Girard, entered the mailboxes, describing the visits however not solely: “The context made it troublesome to arrange for tonight, I do know. You may rely on me in order that we are able to work collectively to revive peace and peaceable working situations, for the great of the groups and the general public service that brings us collectively. »

Museum evening in 2017. © Pokaa

Scenario in regular decline in line with staff

This determination to switch the representatives was made with out enchantment, and was communicated by posters, SMS and emails, from Could 15. A step that is available in a context of pressure, whereas the museum staff have been on strike in March, to reject the working situations, and a state of affairs through which they don’t really feel. “Did not pay attention”calmly explains Dominique Boudet, consultant of SUD FO and UNSA on this matter.

“Since 17 positions have been eradicated beneath the command of Alain Fontanel, the museums are understaffed”, discover Dominique Boudet, “and issues have not improved as a result of we now have three extra museums in our place.” To compensate, the Eurometropolis requires non permanent staff, or fastened time period contracts to “fly”.

Museum of the works of Notre-Dame. © Anthony Jilli / Pokaa

© Wilfried Rion / Poaca

Answer judged “Inadequate and inconsistent” with staff, like Nadia*, employed on one in all these fastened time period contracts, and which advocates for stability. “I am unable to take it anymore: not figuring out the place I will be caught from someday to the following, the incessant modifications within the schedule, the issues with organizing my private life that come from »

“We’ve employed six folks, with a view to lowering the workload of the prevailing employees,” agrees Anna Mistler, vice chairman accountable for Tradition. “As museum reception and analysis brokers, they really transfer from one middle to a different. » Methods to create posts? “There aren’t many alternatives and training got here first: not too long ago we’ve created many ATSEM positions. »

© Wilfried Rion / Poaca

Within the above talked about memo, Émilie Girard specifies that the requests of the representatives have been distributed “these final months” have been heard and {that a} “Energetic dialogue will proceed within the coming months”.

Amongst different issues: additional time

in any other case, The evening of this Museum 2024 and the dearth of employees would solely be the tip of the iceberg. In accordance with Dominique Boudet, the paid hours, particularly on public holidays, are an issue:

“Within the outdated system, on public holidays, staff obtained 7 hours of restoration, and a part of their working time was paid €7 per hour. Now, as of March, they not get the 7 hours of restoration, which reduces the web wage to €4.70 per hour for public holidays. This discount led to tensions and protests, together with actions and sick go away amongst staff. » As a reminder, the minimal hourly wage is at present €9.22 internet.

And MAMCS. 1. © Wilfried Rion / Poka; 2. © Friendship of the Council of Europe / Doc referred to

For her half, Anne Mistler talks about wages for «7 € full hourly along with the usual hourly charge for Sundays and public holidays.” Moreover, at the beginning of the Could 18 occasion, the Metropolis wrote in an electronic mail despatched to representatives that “The hours labored will likely be paid additional time, ie, on common, €16 from 7pm to 10pm after which €33 from 10pm to midnight.”. The Metropolis additionally mentioned they coated the return transport of the employees he requested.

“This memo was the final straw,” ton Samuel*, agent of the Strasbourg Museums. “They do not care concerning the world. Between our hours, our salaries, and the remainder, it is a disgrace despite the fact that we love our work. »

© Mathilde Piaud / Pocaa

Unresolved sicknesses

That is the place it’s the union and the CGT deny a “disillusionment grows” and a state of affairs that continues to worsen, the Eurometropolis responds that it hears their complaints and requests and that it doesn’t “Social communication by no means broke”. “We want to level out that the reception of the general public may be very sure, and we perceive this discomfort. Sadly, it can’t be resolved as quickly as you want.”Anna Mistler’s feedback.

For its half, in a press launch dated Could 24, 2024, the CGT notes that “Regardless of the arrival of the brand new municipal group, issues haven’t essentially modified and no definitive resolution has been discovered to resolve these issues.”

This identical press launch, signed by Karim Hadi, normal secretary of the CGT of territorial representatives, once more denied “pressure” meet with the Museum’s directors : “In entrance of us, they’re typically members of the administration, who’ve chosen troublesome positions, refusing to listen to the discomfort of the representatives, to see their struggling. Between damaged guarantees, refusal to hearken to struggling, no identification work and occasions of current days, the cup is full. »

The deputy accountable for Tradition responds: “The position of the administration is to construct timetables and run the museums as effectively as doable, clearly once we are establishing schedules with absences, this impacts the groups. It’s not comfy for anybody. »

© Wilfried Rion / Pocaa

Amongst brokers, disillusionment

“Sadly we’re used to being swept apart by the political enviornment of Strasbourg. Tradition is dying, and for at the least 20 years, the Eurometropolis and the Metropolis have surrendered to it, ready for its demise.mutters Étienne*, the museum agent, wanting grim.

To his left, Amin*, wanting simply as grim, mentioned: “Strasbourg was referred to as the Metropolis of Tradition. That is not the case right now. We hoped that an ecological city corridor would even be extra social than the earlier mandate. »

Through the phone interview given to Pokaa on Friday 24 Could, Anne Mistler introduced a go to to the Metropolis Museums “within the subsequent few days”to listen to the territorial representatives/them

*First names have been modified