Essential to asylum, the Atsems are on strike

They are essential for the proper functioning of schools. The Atsem, which has 50,000 on French territory e made up of 99% womenthey are on strike, demanding, among other things, better working conditions and higher wages.

The Atsem “They are determined to be heard “

Specialized in nursery schools, they are the ones who daily accompany the little ones, take care of their surveillance in the canteen or during recreation, take them to the bathrooms, assist teachers in activities … They are essential for the proper functioning of a class and school days.

ON Info FranceDelphine Depay, director of the CGT Public Services, in charge of the social and medical-social sector, speaks in defense of these agents and explains the reasons for their strike, which began on September 5, 2022:

An Atsem, with 15 years of seniority, holder of a CAP in early childhood, holder of the admission test to the local public service, earns about 1,600 euros net per month. This is well below what he should earn and below a salary commensurate with the missions he provides for our children.

Delphine Depay for France Info

Atsem strike: a call for mobilization

According to a CGT statement published on Twitter, Atsem asks:

• The presence of one Atsem per class during school hours
• Recognition of the hardship of one’s profession, with request for early retirement before the age of 60 with 75% salary without discounts
• Recognition of their educational missions
• The creation of a category B employment framework
• Immediate replacement in case of staff shortages
• An immediate salary increase of 183 euros net per month
• A re-evaluation of the index grids
• A thaw and an immediate restoration of the index point value of at least 10%
• A reduction in working hours to 32 hours per week

Delphine Depay remembers that the Atsems are “update” “recent years:

Very often we see Atsem who are alone at the head of an entire class in the classes of 25 children, small children. […] Teachers today are largely insufficient in number. And for once, it’s a dexterity between the teacher and the Atsem to take charge of the classes and accompany them. […]

The law specifies that they should only support a school teacher. This is not necessarily the case today for all schools in all municipalities. They are truly there to accompany and bring goodwill to the well-being of these children throughout the school time..

Delphine Depay for France Info

A nationwide strike notice was also filed for 29 September 2022.

Photo credit image of one: FatCamera