Strike enters fourth day in French Polynesia

On the fourth day of an unlimited strike in the public health sector in French Polynesia, the intersyndical movement has intensified its campaign by challenging government-provided salary comparisons and highlighting the lack of attractiveness of medical positions in the region.

General meeting planned for Friday

A general meeting is scheduled for this Friday at noon at the CHPF. The resignation of the Minister of Public Service, Vannina Crolas, announced by Polynésie la 1ère, had not yet been confirmed by the presidency in the morning.

Proposed salary increase faces resistance

Moetai Brotherson has proposed a 15 percent increase in the salaries of hospital practitioners starting in 2027, with a possible new increase in 2028. However, the unions argue that the issue goes beyond this proposal.

Salary comparisons show disparity

Using a study commissioned by the Ministry of Health, the intersyndical movement compares the salaries of Polynesian hospital practitioners with those of the overseas departments and territories (DROM). According to their calculations, at equivalent rank, the gross salary would be 28 to 44 percent higher in the DROM, including the engagement bonus.

Government’s coefficient criticized

The government's coefficient of 1.34, used to compare local salaries with those of the Hexagone, is contested by the intersyndical movement, which states that this figure is an average of all health professions. For hospital practitioners alone, the ratio ranges from 1.04 at the first rank to 0.94 at the thirteenth, with six ranks out of thirteen where Polynesia pays less than the Hexagone.

Real salaries remain unclear

The question of real salaries has also fueled the controversy. A union official mentioned an average gross salary of 1.4 million francs per month for public doctors, a figure contested by colleagues who argue it confuses indexing coefficients. The charts published by the intersyndical movement do not detail the actual monthly salaries of practitioners, including guards and on-call duties.

Benefits absent in French Polynesia

The intersyndical movement points out the absence of several existing benefits in other territories, such as an exclusive public service engagement bonus, savings account, or pension calculated on the entire salary. "5 advantages elsewhere. 0 here," summarizes the movement. It cites a monthly bonus of 120,500 francs in the DROM and 208,508 francs in New Caledonia, against no equivalent bonus in Polynesia. However, these comparisons do not take into account all the fiscal and statutory differences between territories.

Health sector faces staffing crisis

On Friday morning, the unions also sounded the alarm on the situation of the Health Directorate, stating that only 13 percent of positions were filled in the last competition, that more than six out of ten medical positions are occupied by contract workers, and that 42,000 health evacuations were carried out in one year, 3,000 more in twelve months. "Without an attractive status, we no longer recruit, we no longer retain. And it is the islands that pay first," they warned.

Six priorities outlined

The intersyndical movement recalls its six priorities: single status, recruitment, training, working hours, career and salary, and work environment. "We are asking the Country to act now, before the storm carries away what remains of our public health," it warns. A new resignation, that of Vannina Crolas, could disrupt the government in the middle of the conflict. The presidency has not confirmed or denied the information, stating that they continue to work on the files with her teams.

Future of the strike uncertain

A general meeting of the entire intersyndical movement is expected this Friday at noon at the CHPF. After four days of mobilization and without a signed agreement protocol, the strikers must decide the future of the movement.