Christian Grolier, the general secretary of FO Fonction publique, visited Mayotte from Monday, October 5, as part of a broader tour by the syndicalist delegation FO across France and its overseas territories. The visit aimed to prepare for upcoming professional elections in the public sector, scheduled from December 3 to 10, 2026, and to engage with public sector workers and union representatives to understand their concerns. Grolier also sought to gather the grievances of the Mahorais population—residents of Mayotte—to present them at the national level and ensure their voices are heard in mainland France. Grolier explained that the visit to Mayotte had two main purposes: first, to prepare for the public sector elections, which are crucial for determining the representativeness of the entire public sector, including state agencies, local authorities, municipalities, and public hospitals. These elections involve more than 5.8 million voters, representing over 20% of the country's salaried employment. FO is the leading syndicalist organization in the state's public sector and has held the top position since the elections began in 2010. The organization aims to maintain its influence in the upcoming vote. The visit to Mayotte was also motivated by the complex budgetary context, both in mainland France and in Mayotte, as the 2027 budget law is being debated in Parliament. Grolier wanted to return to Mayotte to assess the progress of reconstruction efforts, which he described as very slow. Common issues affecting all Mahorais, such as security, water access, and housing, were noted, although the syndicate's influence is limited in these areas. The focus remained on the public sector, where the syndicate aims to improve restoration, housing, and work conditions, particularly in light of the many public buildings under construction. Grolier emphasized the importance of facilitating telework for three days where possible to ease the workload. He noted that public sector employees in Mayotte are working under difficult conditions, with significant under-staffing and a high proportion of precarious contracts. For example, 45% of the personnel at the prefecture are under current contracts, compared to a national average of 21%. The elections in December will be conducted electronically, which may lead to lower participation. Grolier stressed the importance of mobilizing public sector employees to ensure their voices are heard, as agreements require majority support from representative syndicalist organizations. Currently, FO holds nearly 20% representativeness and aims to increase its share to maintain its leading position. Mayotte is considered important in the syndicalist agenda due to its status as a department of the Republic that often feels overlooked. Despite many promises and frequent visits by ministers and prime ministers, progress has been slow. Grolier emphasized the need for Mayotte to have the same rights as other departments and not be treated as a subordinate department. Future actions include addressing specific demands for Mayotte, such as providing housing assistance to all public sector employees, regardless of their origin. Currently, Mahorais public sector employees do not receive the same housing assistance as those from mainland France. Grolier argued that all public sector employees should be treated equally, with the state covering 30% of their rent. During the visit, Grolier also addressed the concerns of high school students regarding their living and study conditions. He confirmed that these demands would be relayed to mainland France, as they align with those of teachers, including the need for better infrastructure and smaller class sizes. Efforts are underway to construct a communal restaurant for public sector employees and to ensure that new employees have temporary housing upon arrival.