Gard firefighters obtained on Wednesday September 14 the promise that their workforce would increase from 700 to 750 by 2028, 24 hours after hundreds took to the streets of Nîmes to demand additional resources, we learned from sources. union and departmental.
During a consultation meeting, the president of the Departmental Council, Françoise Laurent-Perrigot, "
abounded in the direction of an increase in the workforce to 750 professional firefighters in five years, against 700 currently
", indicated to AFP the departmental secretary of SUD-Pompiers du Gard, Nicolas Nadal.
“
It is a written commitment, which it will present to the (departmental) assembly in October
”, he specified, while a previous agreement dating from 2021, already providing for such an increase in the workforce, did not had not yet produced any effects.
“Objective of 750 firefighters”
“
Indeed, we agree to consider, when we know exactly where there is a real lack of positions, to go towards an increase of up to 750 professional firefighters
” within five years, the president confirmed to AFP. of the board of directors of the Departmental Fire and Rescue Service (Sdis) of Gard, Alexandre Pissas, present during the meeting with the unions.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Alexandre Pissas, which AFP was able to consult, the president of the department, Françoise Laurent-Perrigot, "
confirms that the agreement between the Departmental Council and the Sdis for the period 2023-2028 will integrate the commitment to achieve the recruitments necessary to achieve the
Read alsoFires, floods: Gard firefighters on the street for more resources
The dialogue will also continue between the union and the department on the question of equipment, deemed insufficient or dilapidated by the firefighters, and with the State about the number of water bomber planes, also explained Nicolas Nadal.
On Tuesday, between 350 people, according to the organizers, and 250, according to the police, marched through the center of Nîmes at the call of Sud-Pompiers du Gard, to demand additional resources in the face of the multiplication of forest fires and floods.