The long power cuts that affected Guadeloupe are over due to a social movement paralyzing since December 19, 2022 the thermal power plant of EDF Production Electrique Insulaire (PEI), the largest electricity producer in Guadeloupe. ‘island.
An agreement was signed after 61 days of a strike led by the CGT-Guadeloupe, due to the “refusal of the employer to apply the labor code in the company and therefore to ensure the minimum working conditions provided for by law”explains, on Saturday, the union in a press release.
The first fourteen articles of the twelve-page agreement, signed Friday evening, and of which Agence France-Presse was able to read, therefore resume the application mechanisms in terms of health, penalties, bonuses, security, rest, etc
The EDF PEI plant at Pointe Jarry accepts, “at the request of the Minister of Overseas, in order to calm the conflict within his establishment, to allocate the sum of 560,000 euros intended for the payment of a global lump sum and exceptional indemnity”. The amount of compensation was a persistent point of contention during negotiations.
Petitions before the courts
This concession made by EDF does not satisfy the union, which intends to seek additional compensation before the courts. Indeed, the union is asking EDF PEI to “repair financially” the shortcomings rectified by the labor law agreement, estimated by the union “more than 50,000 euros per agent”, he said in his press release. EDF PEI employs 106 agents in Guadeloupe.
The union is also asking “equal salary treatment for temporary workers during their mission at EDF PEI”.
On the points of unsatisfied claims, “the management will assert, if necessary, its position in court”specifies the agreement, taking up the intention of the union to take the case to court.
Questioned by the local press after the negotiations, the management of EDF PEI, but also the new prefect of Guadeloupe, Xavier Lefort, who played the role of mediator throughout the various negotiation phases, welcomed the the end of the strike.