Mobilization continues despite challenges

A mobilization initiated by staff of the Department has not weakened despite a lack of office space and managerial dysfunctions within the community. A meeting took place on Thursday morning at 11 a.m. between the intersyndical and the executive, though no minutes have been made available so far.

Union criticizes working conditions

Saïd Hachim, CFDT union representative at the Department-Region, stated that the conditions employees are experiencing are no longer tolerable. Since Tuesday, October 27, striking employees have gathered in front of the Younoussa Bamana hemicycle, presenting demands that go beyond the statutory framework, highlighting material and structural difficulties within the community.

Coconi project stalled

At the center of the disputes is the Cité administrative de Coconi project, intended to consolidate services and relieve Mamoudzou. The project is currently on hold, despite public funds already committed. According to Hachim, two million euros have been spent since the project was launched in 2018, and the building permit has still not been submitted. The union is requesting clarification on the use of this money.

Financial argument dismissed

The union representatives claim that the blockage is not due to budgetary constraints, noting that the Department has communicated on a surplus of 80 million euros. For an administrative city estimated at 45 million euros, the community has the capacity to start the work, according to Hachim. The financial argument does not hold.

Modular structures rejected

Faced with delays, the general management proposed the implementation of modular structures as a temporary solution, which was rejected by the staff. Hachim stated that proposing prefabricated buildings to employees waiting for suitable workspaces is not a response. The plans exist, they have been approved by deliberation and presented in the Territorial Social Committee (CST). Employees are waiting for permanent buildings, not temporary ones.

Working conditions deteriorate

The working conditions of territorial agents remain particularly degraded, with several services experiencing a lack of space that forces staff to share cramped offices, sometimes four people per room. The general condition of the buildings also raises concerns, particularly due to water infiltration observed as the rainy season approaches.

Lack of workspace and unease

Hachim noted that many agents do not even have a designated workspace. The union representative mentions a "deep sense of unease" felt by part of the teams. The material situation is compounded by tensions around human resources policy. The intersyndical questions the allocation of certain indemnity regimes granted to staff of the community.

Salary concerns and legal actions

Monthly amounts ranging from 2,400 to more than 3,000 euros are paid under these indemnities, bringing total salaries to 8,000 or 10,000 euros without being justified by visible results, according to Hachim. Alerts have been sent to the public prosecutor to report salaries estimated to be outside the regulatory framework, on the background of pressures mentioned by employees who disagree with these practices.

Sexual harassment report

Another tension point involves an anonymous report sent to the justice concerning alleged sexual harassment at the direction of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. According to this document, a dozen people were heard by the gendarmerie of Sada in February 2025. After a four-month suspension, the person concerned returned to his post before being named acting deputy general director, a decision contested by several employees who denounce the lack of sanctions.

Proposed solutions seen as inadequate

The openings made by the presidency, including the legal coverage of 50% of transport costs and the study of a social aid fund, are considered insufficient by the unions in light of the full range of demands. On Thursday, October 29, a meeting took place at 11 a.m. between the staff representatives and the general management of the Department. No official response had yet been communicated by midday on the content of the discussions.

Calls for urgency

Hachim insisted that the general management and the executive must measure the severity of internal dysfunctions before entering the meeting. In the absence of concrete answers on the resumption of the Coconi project and internal management issues, a new day of mobilization is already being considered starting Monday morning.