The passing months have extinguished neither their determination nor the braziers.
This Friday, April 22, the 93 undocumented employees of the temporary work agency RSI are “celebrating” their six-month strike in the small square in front of RSI, at the end of Avenue des Grésillons.
In six months, their fight has not changed one iota: to obtain a massive regularization of the whole group.
“We have been in France for years, we work hard.
These papers, we don't steal them”, scolds one of them.
In recent weeks, the situation has changed somewhat.
After incessant attempts, demonstrations, requests for meetings with the prefect, Elsa Faucillon and Denis Datcharry, respectively deputy and general councilor PC, were received on April 5 in the prefecture with a capital document: a table listing the situation of each striker, his employment contracts, pay slips, etc.
“According to the prefect, 30 can be regularized.
We are far from the mark but it is progress.
You have to be careful not to split.
This is no doubt what they are hoping for,” analyzes Mahamadou, one of the group's spokespersons.
On December 10, RSI issued a Cerfa, these certificates proving that they work, an essential document for any regularization procedure, to 80 of them.
“The problem is that not everyone has pay slips.
RSI established a work contract, paid but did not systematically send the forms.
If the prefect relies on that, it will still get stuck.
But it's going in the right direction two months ago, we were at a standstill, ”adds Mahamadou.
Since the end of October, the picket line has been transformed into a semblance of a camp with a barnum sheltering mattresses.
“In the neighborhood it is starting to growl a bit.
Local businesses have them almost under their windows and find the time long, ”slips an elected official.
“Despite the duration of their conflict, they are not in economic danger”
The Collectif des sans-papiers de Vitry organized and structured the anger and made the link with two other similar movements: those of Chronopost in Alfortville (Val-de-Marne) and DPD, another subsidiary of the Post Office, in Coudray-Montceaux. , in Essonne.
It is he who takes care of logistics, stewardship and provides for their needs.
“We launched two strike funds on the Internet and organized collections during demonstrations or meetings of left-wing parties, specifies Christian Schweyer, spokesperson for the collective.
We are powerful.
Despite the duration of their conflict, they are not in economic danger.
We are on a long time but at least the prefecture has recognized that this is a collective movement.
It's new and it gives hope!
»
These last few months have been punctuated by demonstrations in front of the prefecture and outbursts organized by the communist municipality of Gennevilliers, which has supported them from the start.
Actions such as the citizen barbecue on December 24, the letter from the city to the Medef and the construction federation or the delivery of a Gennevilloise citizenship card on March 16 have made it possible to maintain unity and galvanize the troops.
This document, without legal value, is nevertheless full of meaning.
"For an undocumented, it's still a beginning of paper, analyzes Mahamadou.
And it has shown its usefulness.
“This card, according to Patrice Leclerc the PCF mayor of Gennevilliers, shows “the solidarity of a city with these men”.
“A few days ago, two comrades were arrested for a metro ticket story.
They showed the only piece of paper they had, this card.
The police let them go without even a fine,” the spokesperson added.
Another subject has recently come up in conversations, the risk of a victory for the far right in the presidential election on Sunday evening.
"It was already extremely hard with Macron but, yes, I'm afraid it will get even tougher for us.
The discourse of the far right has become commonplace,” sighs Diakité.
"Honestly, I'm afraid she'll win," admits Mahamadou.
“They have been holding out for six months but they are paying a high price for it, sums up Elsa Faucillon.
Six months to bivouac and fight at the foot of the N 315 all the same.
They have gone too far to back down: even by dragging out the file, the State is not going to get rid of them!
»