Question asked by Kevin on 04/07/2020
Hello,
You are referring to a press release from the SUD federation of postal and telecommunications activities, published on Monday.
Entitled “Mind-blowing, the Post Office hides millions of masks“, The press release, taken up in particular by rebellious deputy Alexis Corbière, writes that the Post Office has 24 million masks that have not been supplied to postal workers or hospital staff who are still missing them.
If that’s true, it’s revolting, shameful. La Poste would have kept 24 million masks! While its employees, hospital workers, the whole country demand it? Quickly it’s time to distribute them. Sanctions are imposed on those irresponsible who make such decisions. pic.twitter.com/YG8qwCaedX
– Alexis Corbière (@alexiscorbiere) April 6, 2020
In this same press release, the federation accuses Valérie Decaux (HR director of the La Poste group) of having made the following remarks during a telephone meeting on Monday with all the union groups: “We have no interest in this being known because if we get the figure out, we risk being requisitioned.”
How did the SUD federation obtain this figure of 24 million masks? Through legal proceedings.
The SUD PTT federation last week summoned the management of the Post Office. “We attacked the Post Office in the High Court after the endangerment, in our view, of the postal workers since the beginning of the confinement“, Summarizes Yann Le Merrer, member of the SUD PTT federal office, contacted by CheckNews.
It was as part of this procedure that the union group had access to an internal document, which we were able to consult, in which the management of the Post stated, as of January 27, having 486,000 lots of 50 masks (i.e. 24.3 million units), and specified about these: “They are probably still usable: there is no expiration but the quality of the elastic must be checked.”
“Right of withdrawal”
It is this information, coupled with emails received from hundreds of postal workers denouncing their working conditions since the start of the epidemic, which pushed SUD to publish this press release. “At least 200 establishments have written to tell us that they are using their right of withdrawal at the start of confinement in mid-March. It is estimated that this corresponds to approximately 10,000 postal workers ”, explains Yann Le Merrer.
Who adds: “Why did Swiss Post set up the three-day service? Because the postal workers no longer want to work. They put it in place under pressure. “ Since March 30, letter carriers and sorting center staff have been working three days a week instead of six: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Society has been under intense social tension for several days. In a letter, that CheckNews was able to consult, addressed to the Minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, as well as to the CEO of the Post Office, Philippe Wahl (with a copy of Emmanuel Macron and Edouard Philippe), all the union organizations alerted on March 20 on the health and social situation within the group. In these terms : “The massive use of the right of withdrawal, throughout the country, by postal workers, reflects the agents’ great concern […] For example, in many establishments of the parent company and subsidiaries, there is a lack of basic means to deal with the epidemic and limit its spread: hydroalcoholic gel, disposable paper drying device, disinfection equipment, masks, etc.
Stock built up in 2009
How does the company respond to the accusations that emerge from the press release published by SUD, published on Monday? Contacted by CheckNews, it does not dispute the figure of 24 million (without confirming it) and claims that it “Stockpiled masks during the H1N1 health crisis in 2009 as part of its health prevention policy, to respond to a health crisis of about two months. It was verified in the beginning of 2020 that most of these masks could still be used. “
However, the Post disputed the statement’s statement that this stock was not used for the benefit of agents: “Half of these masks were sent to the territories in establishments from the beginning of March for the needs of postal workers and a large part is already in use.”
The company also claims to have donated masks since the start of containment. In details, “1 million surgical masks at the AP-HP, 300,000 at the Ministry of the Interior, 500,000 at the RATP, 510,000 at Intermarché for its employees”.
Figures which leave skeptical Yann Le Merrer, member of the SUD PTT federal office: “We have zero digits on nothing, so it’s hard to verify. At yesterday’s meeting, management solemnly committed that all masks arrived today at all Posts. We will make a point tomorrow. “ For its part, Force Ouvrière, also contacted by CheckNews, ensures that they want to focus only, for the time being, on the well-being of employees: “There are masks, very good. All these masks must now be distributed to postal workers as quickly as possible. Swiss Post has confirmed that it will be done quickly. ”
Requisition
Last point: in its press release, Sud insists on a sentence pronounced by the HR director of the La Poste group, Valérie Décaux: “We have no interest in hiding it because if we take out the number, we risk being requisitioned.” Letting think that not only the Post office does not distribute its masks, but also wishes to conceal its stocks so as not to be requisitioned.
CheckNews was able to be confirmed by another participant in this meeting that the sentence was pronounced. However, it makes little sense. Because nothing would currently allow, under French law, the State to requisition La Poste masks.
As has already explained CheckNews, the Prime Minister signed on March 13, a decree which allows the requisition by the State of “stocks of FFP2 masks […] held by any legal person under public or private law” The stocks of surgical masks are also requisitioned, but only “companies that manufacture or distribute themAre concerned.
However, La Poste claims to hold only simple surgical masks in stock. Which makes their requisition impossible.
cordially
– .
