There are social movements that get bogged down and others, much rarer, that very quickly lead to an agreement. Including on a subject as sensitive as wages. In Laval (Mayenne), nearly 150 employees of the Breger transport company went on strike on Monday to demand an increase in their wages. Negotiations between management and the unions did not drag out and, at the end of the day, an agreement for a significant salary increase was reached.
This concerns a first increase of 5.4% from October, then a second of 1.5% from January. That is a total of around 7%, lower than what Breger’s trade unions initially demanded, but deemed sufficiently satisfactory for the strike to be lifted on Monday evening. The measure will benefit some 800 employees on the ten French sites of the Breger group.
“What we have won is very strong”
“It’s huge”, reacts a driver from Breger, quoted by BFM. “The increase in fuel, the increase in the cost of living means that there is general frustration, he continues. So, after a while, we have to bang our fists on the table. And in the end, what we won today is very strong. »
Solicited by 20 minutes, Vincent Lesage, CEO of Breger underlines that this is a “significant revaluation for the company” after a 2021 financial year already marked by “significant increases”. “We took into account the national context of inflation, fears about purchasing power and the fact that the minimum wage is increasing and will probably increase further in January,” he explains. Our transport sector lacks skills, it also needs to be attractive and better recognized. »
“Let everyone respect each other”
Considering himself an employer “open to social dialogue”, Vincent Lesage nevertheless regrets the recourse to the strike. “This form of action has consequences for the company’s activity. It was not necessary because the process of wage negotiations had already been open since September, ”he insists.
Noting that the agreement obtained at Breger was now cited as an example well beyond Mayenne, Vincent Lesage now hopes that it can “positively” inspire other sectors. “We have to dialogue constantly, co-build together, that everyone respects each other. But it is also necessary to understand the economic reality of companies. They need to turn. »
Source: 20minutes
I have worked as a journalist for over 10 years and have written for various news outlets. I currently work as an author at 24 News Recorder, mostly covering entertainment news. I have a keen interest in the industry and enjoy writing about the latest news and gossip. I am also a member of the National Association of Journalists.
