Normandy: garbage collectors on strike after the suicide of a dismissed colleague

Two weeks ago today, Stephano Patry, 47, killed himself with his rifle. At his feet, a letter of dismissal, received the day before, notified him of his dismissal because of alcohol consumption during the service.

This Friday, part of the garbage collectors of Calvados decided to go on strike to protest against the “lack of social dialogue”, according to them at the origin of the death of their colleague. A call for mobilization had been launched by the CGT and the CFDT. Several sites managed by the company Coved Environnement were blocked in the morning in Giberville and Pont-Lévêque (Calvados), preventing the dump trucks from touring.

"You don't spill garbage cans when you've only had two beers ..."

Garbage collector for 26 years, Stefano Patry committed suicide in working clothes in his parents' garage. He lived there with his 18-year-old son, his mother's orphan for a few years.

The management of Coved Environnement (2,700 employees and a hundred agencies in France) criticizes him for having consumed alcohol on May 15, during his working hours in Courseulles-sur-Mer. Facts recognized by Stéphano Patry and another employee involved, but these "two beers", they explain, were offered by residents who wanted to thank them for their commitment during confinement.

"When you are a truck driver, you cannot drink alcohol," management told the world. We don't stagger, we don't yell, we don't spill trash cans when we have only had two beers ... On May 15, according to GPS data, the truck was stopped three times, including 45 minutes in front of a bar. She adds that it was the municipal police, alerted by residents, who carried out a positive blood alcohol test. Three hours later, Mr. Patry will be allowed to drop his vehicle off at the depot after a second test, this time negative.

A dismissal without prior layoff

This drama was avoidable, replied Yannick Martin, CGT union official. "Before firing him, they might have been able to talk to him. This is not normal, “lamented this garbage man on BFMTV.

Union officials also criticize the fact that he was not laid off and continued to work until the dismissal was announced, which was allegedly not mentioned when he was summoned. “Management told us that we were taking advantage of death to ask for a raise. It is absurd. We have been asking for it for three years ”, also exclaimed Yannick Martin at the microphone of the channel RT France, about union mobilization.

The coved on strike support our friend who disappeared 2 weeks ago pic.twitter.com/MmIOU7n4AK

Unions and family are now considering filing a complaint against the employer for manslaughter.