Christian Grolier, the general secretary of the General Federation of Public Employees Force Ouvrière (FO), arrived in Mayotte on Monday, October 5, with Pascaline Kerhoas, the federal secretary of FO Finances. The visit aimed to evaluate the progress of the island’s reconstruction after the passage of Cyclone Chido and to meet with union representatives as part of a nationwide tour. This timing coincided with preparations for public sector professional elections, where around 5.8 million public employees are expected to vote by the end of the year, representing about 20% of the country’s workforce. During their three-day stay, FO secretaries met with various union representatives on the island. The goal of these meetings was to review the situation in different sectors, engage with local workers, report problems, explain union demands, and raise awareness about the upcoming elections. Grolier pointed out that the situation in Mayotte is not improving, or is improving very slowly, and stressed the need to inform the prefect, the minister of public administration, David Amiel, and the prime minister about the challenges faced by workers in the territory. The main union demands for the 101st department, as outlined by Grolier, include the creation of temporary housing for new employees and a 30% financial assistance to cover rent. The union is also pushing for more housing for temporary workers and for Mahorais public employees who return to work in Mayotte to be eligible for a stipend, which would help bridge the gap in treatment between workers in metropolitan France and those in Mayotte. Grolier mentioned that the minister of public administration has been asked to revise these conditions, but no changes have been made. Grolier emphasized that there is no ongoing negotiation on these issues, noting that no one is interested in dialogue and that any negotiations are not expected to conclude before the end of 2027. He added that the administration is not making an effort to address the specific challenges faced by Mayotte. The visit took place amid nationwide student protests, and Grolier and Kerhoas expressed support for the students’ demands concerning issues like construction delays, a shortage of teachers, and overcrowded classrooms. However, they strongly condemned the violence and extreme behaviors associated with the protests. Grolier warned that the social situation is becoming increasingly unstable due to rising prices and fuel costs. All trade union and interprofessional federations are planning a new national demonstration on November 5 to address these growing concerns.