Indefinite strike at La Poste: Unions call for reinforcements and defend the Galisbay post office
Since Tuesday, October 6, about ten La Poste employees have been on strike in Saint-Martin as part of an indefinite strike notice issued by FO.COM, CGT-FAPT, and SUD PTT GWA. The unions are protesting staffing shortages, repeated office closures, and their impact on both working conditions and users’ access to postal services.
Galisbay, a symbol of the issues being highlighted
“La Poste on strike,” “Respect for customers”: the signs displayed in front of the office reflect the workers’ demands. For Laurent Lorient, a SUD PTT staff representative and spokesperson for the movement, the priority is to fill vacant positions and ensure the smooth operation of postal facilities.
Keeping the Galisbay office open is one of the main points of contention. According to the union representative, the office “has reportedly been open for only one week since July,” largely due to training and staff shortages. The organizations are also demanding access to the CREF (nominal reference framework), a document intended to provide information on workforce distribution and the positions assigned to various departments.
Impact on Users
For the strikers, the difficulties go beyond the Galisbay case alone. In Grand-Case, recurring IT network issues are reportedly causing service interruptions, while some residents of the Orléans neighborhood must travel to complete transactions that cannot be carried out in their area.
These closures are diverting some of the foot traffic to Marigot, where lines are growing longer. Seniors, users with limited mobility, and those with little familiarity with digital tools are particularly vulnerable to these difficulties. “The people of Saint Martin deserve high-quality public services,” insists Laurent Lorient. He also highlights the unique characteristics of the territory—particularly the need for support services and linguistic diversity—which make “maintaining a personalized, human-centered service at the counter” essential.
Working conditions also cited as a problem
Employees also cite a deterioration in their working conditions, pointing to an increased workload and difficulties taking breaks. They also highlight internal reorganizations, with some tellers being reassigned to financial duties without systematic replacements at the teller windows.
The unions argue that these changes undermine both the teams and the continuity of service. They are calling for additional staff to keep the offices open and ensure that duties are carried out under satisfactory conditions.
Demands under review
An initial round of negotiations took place in Guadeloupe on the Monday before the strike began. At that time, union representatives felt they had not received satisfactory responses. A female employee from Saint Martin is currently tasked with bringing the challenges faced on the ground to the table during the discussions.
The union organizations’ demands are now under review. FO.COM, CGT-FAPT, and SUD PTT GWA are awaiting concrete responses from management. While awaiting progress, the strikers are maintaining their mobilization and defending a central goal: ensuring that the people of Saint Martin have access to a local, accessible, and reliable postal service.
