Le Figaro Bordeaux
The pouring rain sparse their ranks without discouraging their punchy action: displaying bare skin under their aprons.
This Monday, around thirty craftsmen demonstrated in front of the town hall of Bordeaux at the call of the Federation of Butchers butchers of the Gironde.
“
The State strips your butchers!
“, denounced the industry burdened by inflation.
According to the federation, the closure awaits 50% of them in the absence of additional financial aid.
The reason: the global rise in the price of raw materials, to which is added a significant increase in energy costs.
"
My roll of wrapping paper went from 35 euros to 65 euros without justification
," says Nathalie Coulon.
Exercising for eighteen years alongside her husband in Cestas (Gironde), the co-president of the Federation warns of “
a dramatic situation
”.
She "
trembles
" especially at the thought of her next EDF bill.
Read alsoNew Aquitaine: the SOS of bakers and butchers-delicatessen faced with the price of energy
A stone's throw away, Angélique and Bruno Patey received theirs.
The bank account of their butcher's shop located in Eyrans (Gironde) has fluctuated between 20,000 and 25,000 euros in overdraft since the beginning of winter.
Fourth generation to practice this profession, he has not been paid for three months.
Worse, he plans to lay off.
Monday morning, the couple "
taken by the throat
" hoped above all to be "
heard, listened to and understood
".
All say that the state electricity shock absorber, put in place on January 1, is not enough.
This aid is paid automatically to companies not eligible for the tariff shield provided that they employ fewer than 10 employees and that their turnover is less than 2 million euros.
Butchers hope for local help
A symbolic gathering place, the forecourt of the town hall was also chosen in reaction to the policy of Pierre Hurmic, the environmentalist mayor of Bordeaux.
Since the beginning of his mandate, two vegetarian menus per week have been offered in Bordeaux school canteens.
A choice that hurt the sector according to Nathalie Coulon.
"
It's mainly the way he did it, saying 'that it was not necessary to eat meat' and that we could 'very well do without'
", she specifies. .
A delegation was received Monday morning by Jean-Bernard Duboscq, collaborator of the mayor's office and Sandrine Jacotot, assistant in charge of shops, markets and local events.
At the end of this meeting, Franck Barbieri and Thomas Burgalières, "
do not hope for a significant change tomorrow
".
For these butchers in the Bordeaux district of Bouscat, the challenge now is to obtain a reaction from Bordeaux Métropole and if possible other state aid.
“
I dream that all the debts of the URSSAF of traders and craftsmen will be written off.
Agriculture has the Common Agricultural Policy (the CAP is financed by European funds, editor's note).
Why would we not be helped?
“, balances Franck Barbieri, exceeded to”
galley
“.
To refloat his only shop, he would thus need “
20,000 or 30,000 euros
” in subsidies.
Regional councilor in New Aquitaine for the National Rally (RN), Julie Rechagneux had made the trip "
in support
" of the demonstrators.
“
We are going to ask President Alain Rousset to grant an exceptional fund to these butchers and bakers in embarrassment
”, reacted the elected official to Le
Figaro
.
