One of the main unions of French professional firefighters, the FA SPP-PATS, announced Wednesday, August 4, that it had given notice of an indefinite national strike from Monday, to protest against the compulsory vaccination of firefighters.
Read also: Covid-19: "The vaccine obligation could fuel the feeling of mistrust"
"
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,
" André Goretti, spokesperson for the union, told AFP.
"Never asked to be assimilated to nursing staff"
The new law, which also provides for the controversial extension of the health pass, is due to come into force next Monday.
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.
Read also: Health pass, vaccination obligation for caregivers ... What does the anti-Covid bill contain?
"
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 7000 members and presents itself as the first union force of the departmental fire and rescue services (SDIS).