On the side of the road, a man grabs motorists, cap on his head and apron with the writing "Angry Baker" belted around his waist.
Some open the window of their vehicle, stop to chat, others show their impatience.
Day is slowly dawning.
Behind him, many craftsmen and elected officials came to show their support, while journalists filmed the scene.
This Monday morning, a "punch" action was organized at the McDonald's roundabout in Villers-Saint-Paul (Oise).
At the origin of this gathering, Julien Pedussel, a baker in Rieux, admits to being "overwhelmed" by the scale and media coverage of the movement.
“The whole of France contacts me, I had phone calls until 9 p.m. this Sunday evening.
I'm not in my element, but I no longer have a choice,” he says.
This Monday, in Villers-Saint-Paul, Julien Pedussel responds to numerous requests from the media to explain the reasons for his mobilization.
LP/Juliet Duclos
Like other artisan bakers all over France, he is facing the brunt of rising energy prices.
From 1,000 euros, his bill has just climbed to 13,000 euros for the month of November.
“We never hear the bakers normally, scolds the manager.
But I'm about to close, the energy providers are killing us with these bills.
How can we pay them?
We have small treasuries, we are not multinationals.
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Read alsoFaced with the cost of energy, this baker in the Oise risks closing: “My calculation is done, I am screwed”
With an annual turnover of around 20,000 euros, it's impossible to get by.
“I objected to the last bill, but unless TotalEnergies calls me tomorrow, then I have no more hope.
So, with the support of his town and the Chamber of Trades and Crafts (CMA) of Oise, he tried "everything for everything": "I'm not fighting just for myself, I'm fight for all the others who are in the same situation.
Today, we are obliged to make ourselves heard so that the government becomes aware of this crisis.
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Bakers who demonstrate "for the first time"
Between two interviews, a baker comes to introduce himself to Julien Pedussel and give him his support.
"I'm right next door, I want the Mascot in Villers", slips Ahmed Yakouban, the manager.
He was not aware of the morning mobilization, he came because he saw people gathered on the roundabout.
"I would have brought people back otherwise," he says.
There, we really have to show up because we are stuck.
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This Monday, in Villers-Saint-Paul, banners were deployed on the roundabout.
In the crowd, there is also Franck Delaleu, a baker in Lamorlaye, whose bill is now around 10,300 euros, against 1,700 euros previously.
“I have 35,000 euros in profit per year, I'm not going to make it.
The next bill, I will not be able to pay it, ”breathes the professional, beret on his head and graying beard.
At 58, he demonstrated for the “first time in his life”.
“We are all a bit lonely in our corner, so fortunately Julien is fighting for us.
Franck Delaleu set up on his own at the age of 26.
“Since then, I have been working 70 hours a week but I still have to take to the streets so as not to lose everything, he says.
It's not my retirement as a craftsman that will make me live.
So I'm counting on selling my business but if I lose everything two years from retirement, what do I do?
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The “three-thirds” formula to settle the bill?
Yellow vest on the shoulders, Morgan Isaac, president of the CMA of Oise, closed his florist shop in Thourotte to be present.
"I sent more than 700 text messages to craftsmen and elected officials to mobilize them, it's a first for me," he says.
And to insist: “It does not make us happy to be there, but we have to hit the table hard so that the State becomes aware of our problems.
Otherwise, Julien, in two months, he's finished.
An “electricity buffer” of 15 to 20% has indeed been put in place by the government, from January 1, for all SMEs that excessive consumption deprives them of the tariff shield, but the device is deemed insufficient by professionals.
With the CMA of Hauts-de-France, Morgan Isaac, he advocates “the three-thirds formula”: one-third paid by the craftsman, one-third paid by the State and one-third paid by the supplier.
“We will continue our mobilizations as long as we do not have a response from the government”, he assures.
Another rally is organized this Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., still at the McDonald's roundabout in Villers-Saint-Paul.
