More than two weeks since no bus left the Keolis depot in Montesson (Yvelines). Two weeks too that a little routine has been established in front of the gates covered with banners. Every morning, from 4:30 a.m., the first ropers come to set up at the picket.
All day long, the striking bus drivers, who are demanding payment of their profit-sharing and participation bonuses, take turns to ensure a presence before storing tables and chairs until the next day. A standoff that lasts but which these driving professionals who have “nothing left to lose” say they are ready to continue for a long time. Even if it means having to assume the financial consequences.
“We live on Madame’s salary”
Here, everyone usually earns between 1,700 and 2,000 euros net per month. But “we know, we will not be able to count on our salary for the month of September,” says Demba, one of the union representatives, met on site this Monday, September 25. For him, as for these dozens of strikers (70 people according to management), “we will have to get by” while the conflict lasts.
Sacko, 45, had anticipated, even if he did not think he would see the situation get bogged down like this. “We live on Madame’s salary, who fortunately works. She supports me 100%,” says this resident of Villeneuve-la-Garenne (Hauts-de-Seine).
Montesson (Yvelines), this Monday September 25. Sacko, a striking bus driver, says he can count on his wife’s salary to keep him going, who supports him “100%”.
For this father of five children, used to driving in the afternoon or providing night service, it is more than ever necessary to count the money. “For the start of the school year, we looked in several stores, on the Internet, and we made sure to choose the cheapest,” he explains.
“It’s a matter of days, we must not give up”
Eddy, 35, comes every day from Montlhéry (Essonne) in front of the depot to be alongside “friends”, but also “to be aware of what is happening, to participate in decisions”. For him, “it’s a matter of days, we must not give up”. The man, however, has difficulty understanding that his colleagues in Argenteuil (Val-d’Oise) – on which the Montesson depot depends – are not following suit.
“We do it for them too,” he believes. We also have credits and children, but we are here, and we are fighting. » According to him, “even if the end of the month arrives, we know that there are solutions to allow us to continue the strike”.
Like this pot opened on Leetchi on which he and his colleagues rely a lot. “The idea is to give a little something to everyone,” explains Amine, representative of the Solidaires union. This Monday, the fund showed 5,600 euros, part of which was paid by the deputies (LFI) Paul Vannier and William Martinet, who came last week to support the drivers. But also “by national unions, by family members and even by users who support us,” assures Demba.
The sum also allows us to “keep the camp alive,” “to buy food, coffee,” even if “we manage to bring things from home,” said another striker. Everyone says they will hold out “until the end”. However, to date, no favorable development seems to be emerging.
“Legally impossible” bonuses to pay according to management
For Keolis, the strikers’ fight is in vain, the profit-sharing and participation bonuses being linked to the figure achieved by the company. “Given the results of the subsidiary which is currently in deficit, it is legally impossible for Keolis to pay these bonuses to employees, whether they are drivers, employees or supervisors”, we assure, specifying that “the salaries were increased on January 1, 2023” and that “new benefits, such as holiday vouchers, were also put in place”.
No agenda is set. “We ensure a daily presence of management on the ground and discussions continue very regularly between the latter and the strikers,” the company explains. “We do everything we can to penalize travelers as little as possible,” she emphasizes. We apologize for the difficulties caused to the inhabitants of the territory and hope to find a solution as quickly as possible. »
Île-de-France Mobilités for its part says it is “very sensitive to the situation”. “We want it to be resolved as quickly as possible in order to meet the needs of travelers,” explains the body in charge of regional transport, which notably requested by letter from Keolis “that school lines be preserved (the service is assured again since last week) and that a solution is found as soon as possible.
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