French postal workers strike over increased election workload

Postal workers are going on strike in two departments due to the increased workload of distributing manifestoes for the parliamentary elections. 

The CGT union filed a strike notice for affiliated workers on June 25, principally affecting the Loire-Atlantique and Pyrénées-Atlantiques.

Several other unions, including the Sud and FO, could follow suit, leading to a wider postal strike.

Unions say that the mandatory distribution of manifestoes massively increases the workload for workers at La Poste in the run-up to the first round of the parliamentary elections on June 30.

However, La Poste said the disruption should be minimal, and that election manifestoes were being given priority and should all be delivered on time for both the first and second round of the elections.

It added that a similar strike notice during the European elections did not prevent the service delivering around 47 million political pamphlets and letters prior to the vote.

Workers deserve ‘share’ of €160 million generated

The CGT union claims that the election will involve an extra 2.8 million letters and pamphlets in the Loire Atlantique alone

One postman told BFMTV that distributing election content will double or triple his workload.

The union also claims that each round of the legislative election earns La Poste €80m, which they say should be more fairly distributed between workers and management.

The CGT is demanding a one-off €500 bonus for postal workers after the first round of the legislative elections (held Sunday June 30), and a second €600 bonus after the second round (July 7).

At present, La Poste offers bonuses prior to the election of between €25 and €40 on top of pay for working extra days, and double-pay for overtime work on any day including Saturdays. 

However, unions say it does not currently offer the ‘exceptional bonus’ that they are demanding.