They are not opposed to vaccination but consider that the bill relating to the management of the health crisis violates the Constitution.
One of the main unions of French professional firefighters, the FA SPP-PATS, announced on Wednesday that it had given notice of an indefinite national strike from Monday, to protest against the compulsory vaccination of firefighters.
"The bill relating to the management of the health crisis, which provides in particular and under penalty of compulsory vaccination for firefighters, violates the Constitution", indignant the union, which hopes that this measure will be censored by the Constitutional Council on Thursday.
"We will see (Thursday) what will be the words of the Constitutional Council and the office will decide on the follow-up to be given", explained André Goretti, spokesperson for the union.
The new law, which also provides for the controversial extension of the health pass, is due to come into force next Monday.
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The bill, definitively adopted by Parliament at the end of July, makes compulsory the vaccination of staff in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and retirement homes, firefighters, certain soldiers, as well as professionals and volunteers working with the elderly, including at home.
🚨🚨 Please take note of our indefinite national strike notice sent to the Minister of the Interior, the Prime Minister and the President of the Republic 🚨🚨 # FaSppPats ## GreveNationale pic.twitter.com/aED3RHw2nD
- FA / SPP-PATS (@faspppats) August 4, 2021
"We are not leading a political fight, but there is a questioning of the fundamentals which goes too far", judges the spokesperson for the union, who specifies that his federation is "not opposed to vaccination".
"If you maintain the vaccination obligation for firefighters, then we demand to benefit from the same statutory and social advances as caregivers", advances the union which recalls having "never asked to be assimilated to caregivers".
The Autonomous Federation of professional firefighters and specialized administrative and technical staff claims 7,000 members and presents itself as the leading union force for the departmental fire and rescue services (Sdis).
