Two years after #MeToo, the National Assembly has done work against bullying or sexual harassment. The institution now wants to strengthen its internal system, while employees are alarmed by situations that are still "numerous and worrying".
"A case of harassment is already too much, it has to stop," warns Brayen Sooranna, CFDT representative of some 2,000 "little hands" who assist elected officials of the Palais Bourbon, on site or in the constituency. Complaints are rare. But the press regularly reports on industrial tribunal proceedings against deputies (the LFI Muriel Ressiguier recently). Charges denied each time by the interested parties, some filing complaints for “slanderous denunciation”, like Pierre Cabaré (LREM).
“Promoted” stalkers
There is no inventory of harassment in the Assembly, but the ethics officer had indicated at the beginning of 2019 to have on average two meetings per month with people claiming to be victims, mainly of psychological harassment. Since 2013, this independent personality has, in addition to his powers (conflicts of interest, control of mandate fees, etc.), an anti-harassment mission, with a "referent".
In view of an “insufficient” device of his own admission, and after repeated alerts, a “prevention and support” cell, with a doctor, a psychologist and a specialist lawyer, was launched in January, in accordance with a vote MPs in the spring. In agreement with the victim, the cell can transmit its analysis to the ethics officer.
In terms of sexual harassment, Mathilde Julié-Viot, of the collective "Chair collaboratrice", who had denounced the persistence of these phenomena at the end of March, believes that things have not changed despite the #MeToo wave: "messages with connotations and "assault" like hands to buttocks "are still relevant. Harassers are even "promoted or maintained," said the employee. "I don't see any grilled guys! ", She is surprised with AFP, while" as soon as a woman moves an eyelash, there is a complaint ".
Explosion of moral harassment
Astrid Morne (UNSA-USCP) mentions "an unhappy constant" in matters of sexual harassment while moral harassment has, according to her, "exploded under this legislature", several groups being concerned. From February 2018 to October 2019, "34% of employees have left," said another union official. In the majority, certain deputy-employee conflicts are referred to an issue of "skills" and "understanding" of the function.
A young employee tells AFP to have undergone a "toxic" process: these are "little remarks", then "we demean you" and then come "bullying in public" ... leading to a "loss of confidence". "Those who make the law do not even respect it" and the "only escape is to leave and bow your head" in front of a hierarchical superior who has "right of life or death on your employment contract".
A "perfectly independent" unit
The unions deplore a certain lack of movement at the highest level of the institution, which is not an employer of deputies. They hope that the new cell will not be "on display", deploring not being associated with it. "Two essential points" are missing, says Gonzague de Chantérac (CFTC Parlement): the link with the labor inspectorate which cannot intervene in the Assembly and the capacity to take legal action.
"If it is an additional step to reach the ethics officer (...) it is disappointing", abounds Mathilde Julié-Viot. The Jean Jaurès Foundation pinned the Assembly in mid-December for the "slowness" of its response, stressing that the institution "does not seem determined" to internal sanctions, unlike the European Parliament and the Senate.
"We favor common law with a referral to justice rather than small accommodations to settle internally matters of a penal nature," retorts the entourage of Assembly President Richard Ferrand (LREM). And to emphasize that the cell, "perfectly independent", can help potential victims to file a complaint.
Politics
Sexist and sexual harassment in the Assembly must 'stop', demand MEPs
Society
Jokes, insults, inappropriate gestures ... In the Assembly, sexist and sexual harassment is still widespread
- National Assembly
- Bullying
- Society
- Sexual harassment