Strike continues at Montauban Hospital Center

Cleaning staff at the Montauban Hospital Center have been on strike since September 26, demanding three additional workers to manage the added 3,000 square meters of facilities now under their responsibility. The strike is part of ongoing labor disputes over staffing levels and work conditions.

Unions criticize hospital’s reorganization

Unions FO and CGT have criticized the hospital’s decision to bring back the maintenance of these areas, which were previously handled by an external contractor, without adding more staff. The dispute traces back to a 2018 reorganization that outsourced the maintenance, leading to the loss of 12 jobs.

Current staffing levels deemed inadequate

Currently, about 65 full-time equivalents (ETP) are assigned to cleaning in departments such as medicine, surgery, obstetrics, psychiatry, and post-care. The unions argue this number is too low to handle the expanded 3,000 square meters, especially given the age of the buildings and their spread across multiple locations.

Bio-cleaning’s critical role in infection control

The CGT union emphasized that hospital bio-cleaning is essential for preventing infections, particularly in areas with strict sanitary standards. It noted that the current workload could compromise the effectiveness of infection control measures if not properly addressed.

Concerns over staff capacity and workload

Union representatives expressed worries that current teams cannot perform all necessary tasks, even though some striking workers are assigned to priority activities. The distribution of available personnel does not meet the needs, a concern raised during a meeting with the prefecture’s services.

Unions demand immediate action and support

FO and CGT are demanding three new hires, the replacement of absent workers, and better recognition of the workload’s intensity. They want swift action before the new hospital, expected to open around 2032, becomes operational. The Departmental CGT Union of Tarn-et-Garonne has launched an online petition to support the striking workers, but no agreement has been reached to end the strike.