Four employees involved in two days of strike, followed by the majority of the staff for the second, were summoned, on May 3 and 6, for interviews prior to their dismissal: this is the first assessment of the social conflict which is shaking the Parisian store Rougier & Plé in the République district of Paris, a brand well known to leisure and creative arts enthusiasts with a dozen non-franchise points of sale.
The employer has one month after the interviews to notify its decisions.
At the origin of this movement which rocks the flagship spread over four levels, the working conditions. The strikers argue that management has redone the facade of the brand’s largest store in the capital… while neglecting everything else. Supporting photos, they point to wastewater infiltrations in the basement which they claim to have had to clean themselves in March, due to lack of intervention by a company within a reasonable time; holes in the ceilings and cracks in the walls; an unsafe electrical installation. An elevator that breaks down too often forces staff and customers to take the stairs or freight elevator.
The employer alleges faults
Furthermore, the twenty-three full-time equivalent (FTE) employees at the République store complain of an excessive workload. “Management does not renew starters. She favors fixed-term contracts and overtime”, relates Sam Jumilla, saleswoman in this store and representative of the SUD union section. So many criticisms that management refutes in writing: “There are no reservations about the health and safety of this store that have not been followed up by our technical services (…). Sales staff were not asked to clean up water damage (…). The store at 13-15, boulevard des Filles-du-Calvaire now has the same number of employees as it has for years. »
Should we see a link between these two days of strike and the initiation of dismissal procedures? “The summons (…) have, obviously, no connection with this social movement nor with any union membership”, responds the management of Rougier & Plé. Since the law prohibits dismissals for these reasons, the employer cites professional misconduct or inadequacies: delays, lack of friendliness with customers, harassment of colleagues or superiors, labeling errors, anything goes…
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