After farmers and taxis, it is the turn of teachers to join the movement of social discontent which has affected France since last week.
This Thursday, disruptions are expected in schools, colleges and high schools as the main education unions call for a day of action.
They are demanding an increase in salaries, better working conditions and intend to protest against reforms, including the famous “shock of knowledge” imagined by Gabriel Attal before his departure from the ministry.
This system, “unfeasible” for certain unions due to lack of resources, notably provides for the establishment of level groups in mathematics and French in middle school or new programs in elementary school from the next school year.
“Significant tension after his remarks”
Beyond these somewhat catch-all slogans, a good part of the criticism focuses on Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, the new Minister of National Education.
His controversial statements on the “lots of wasted hours” in public schools finally convinced unions like Unsa-Education – initially reluctant – to join the movement.
“We are mobilized for the defense of public and secular schools, and for the respect that the minister owes to this school and its staff.
There is significant tension among our colleagues after his remarks, and we have the feeling that this can largely mobilize people,” comments Jérôme Fournier, national secretary of Unsa-Education.
It is true that the repeated controversies which mar the new minister's debut have disappointed, even ulcerated, the teaching world.
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“Amélie Oudéa-Castéra annoys me.
It is inaudible,” laments this non-unionized school teacher from central France.
This French teacher in a Parisian high school believes that the call for a strike will "no doubt be well followed" and that the new minister's failed introduction should "play a part in the mobilization".
What level of mobilization?
For their part, the unions keep in mind the date of January 13, 2022, the last strike to have been widely followed in the sector.
At the time at the head of Rue de Grenelle, Jean-Michel Blanquer was in the crosshairs of teachers for his vacation in Ibiza, in the middle of the Covid crisis, and his incessant changes in health protocol.
The Ministry of National Education estimated the participation rate at 38.48%
in the 1st degree, and 23.73% in the 2nd degree
when the unions counted 75% of school teachers on strike and 62% in middle and high schools.
“We may not be at the same level because at the time we were in a very particular situation.
But the teachers are upset, not to mention that we are in the middle of a school map with announcements of class closures at school,” recalls Guislaine David, spokesperson for the Snuipp-FSU, the main primary school union.
Beyond the dispute over figures which will inevitably resurface this Thursday, the level of the dispute remains difficult to assess at this stage.
Indeed, if primary school teachers have to declare themselves on strike 48 hours in advance since the law on minimum service of 2008, secondary school teachers do not have this obligation.