Last November, an investigation highlighted the extent of repression faced by employees at RATP, the French public transport operator. Reports indicated repeated home checks, pressures on sick workers, and harassment, with the CCAS, the social security fund for RATP agents, partnering with management to target workers on sick leave. Following this, a collective made up of agents, lawyers, and labor inspectors has formed to both exchange experiences and coordinate responses to these aggressive measures. Members of this collective, which included around 30 agents, both unionized and non-unionized, convened on January 21st at Saint-Denis to discuss strategies.
For many agents dealing with illness, the pressure is twofold. Not only are they faced with health challenges—sometimes exacerbated by workplace incidents—but they are also subjected to rigorous scrutiny from the CCAS, which frequently denies recognition of work-related injuries and pressures employees to return to work against their doctors' advice. Although the CCAS is officially autonomous, it functions as part of RATP’s framework, receiving direct funding from management. This alignment creates a clear conflict of interest where management aims to minimize costs by limiting the duration of sick leave and failing to recognize workplace injuries.
"This collective is about uniting RATP agents from different depots, unionized and non-unionized alike, to avoid feeling isolated in our struggles," explained Adil, a member of the group and machinist at the Pleyel depot. The discussions, initially focused on the harassment of sick agents, quickly expanded to include broader workplace conditions, including low wages and the overall contempt management shows its staff. "The plight is bigger than just harassment of sick agents; it spans poor working conditions and the management’s disregard for dignity. This collective is significant because it empowers us to lift our heads high, change our circumstances, and potentially influence future outcomes together."
Louisa Lamour, the chamber's labor lawyer, emphasized, "What we seek is respect for our dignity." She described how their movement is not merely defensive but aims to reclaim power amid the intense pressure to maintain productivity levels, especially with the looming competition as RATP gradually opens its network to new private operators. This strategy, driven by Jean Castex, now at the helm of RATP, targets "curbing abuse related to absenteeism" as part of broader changes.
"The objective is clear: to preemptively discipline employees as RATP prepares to hand over bus and subway lines to private companies, effectively shrinking its workforce to make the transition smoother," outlined Yassine Jioua, another collective member and machinist. Over the past two years alone, RATP has cut more than 2,000 positions as part of what many have described as social plans lacking adequate response from union representatives. Although efforts by unions such as FO and CGT have begun to gather momentum, they are still far from sufficient.
"This collective is undoubtedly positive," Yassine said. "It is imperative to mandate grassroots movements among all workers, unionized or not, creating shared demands and restoring relevance to the recurring strike for power dynamics. This can be the initial steps toward discussions concerning retirements as well."
Ahmed Berrahal, responsible for addressing harassment and also affiliated with the CGT, voiced concerns over the long-standing targeting of workers. "This issue predates Castex; it reflects the government’s overarching intention to undermine our rights and diminish our dignity inside the workplace. When we joined RATP, we were told it was like being part of a family; today, the environment feels vastly different. The focus is solely on productivity, compromising our rights."
During the meeting, it became evident through various discussions among the 30 agents present on January 21st, the focus will shift toward raising awareness of their situation with both the public and wider work community. "The public would definitely sympathize if they understood our treatment and the deceit of competition opening up public transportation. If we can cultivate external support, it may become unmanageable for management," insisted Guillaume, another machinist affected. Christine, also a machinist, reinforced this assertion: "We should take inspiration from the yellow vests; they acted independently of unions and connected with public sentiment."
Projects aimed at educating the public and communicating their struggles are underway, with ideas circulated for creating videos and flyers, as well as engaging directly with peers to expand their support network. This effort aims to build not just solidarity among employees but draw attention to the wider issues at hand. "The broader issue stems from the government's direction and extends beyond just RATP. Our methods of grassroots organization could inspire other sectors needing similar movements," emphasized Yassine Jioua.
Indeed, the government’s privatization of public services has been acknowledged over several administrations, and the repression faced at work and the scrutiny on sick leaves are problems not limited to RATP. The initiatives taken by this collective warrant close observation, as they may set a precedent for other sectors facing similar challenges.
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