The firefighters' demonstration in Paris marked by tensions with the police

To the sound of whistles and sirens, and under the multicolored smoke, the firefighters, dressed in their navy blue uniform with fluorescent yellow stripes, left Tuesday, January 28, shortly after 2 p.m., from Place de la République towards Nation, terminus of the Parisian event.

This is the second national firefighters 'demonstration in less than four months in the capital, at the call of professional firefighters' unions, mobilized since last summer to obtain answers to their demands from the government and local communities.

The unions were to be received in the afternoon at the Ministry of the Interior to discuss these matters.

They demand a revaluation of the fire bonus (28% of the basic salary, against 19% currently) up to the risk premiums granted to the police and gendarmes, the maintenance of their workforce, the guarantee of the maintenance of their current retirement system and better protection against attacks, the number of which increases each year.

"We are the last link of emergency aid in France, and we are overwhelmed by calls and interventions. We need manpower and means to respond, but also the guarantee that we focus mainly on our missions, the "emergency, and not serve as supplements to absent health services", explained AFP Frédéric Perrin, president of the union SPASDIS-CFTC.

Projectile jets against tear gas

The procession marched in a tense atmosphere, marked by a few jets of projectiles on the police, who responded with tear gas.

Avalanche of explosive grenades on #pompiers. Example of the detonation of these grenades and the shrapnel they project. # greve28janvier #manifestation #PompiersEnColere pic.twitter.com/zznu2Q4ZNS

Several firefighters also tried to leave the authorized route in an attempt to block the ring road at the Porte de Vincennes, according to the prefecture, which denounced, in a press release on Twitter, an "unacceptable blockage".

#Pompiers hit in the legs by shrapnel from grenades. No serious injuries to be reported from what we have witnessed. We will take stock later. # greve28janvier #manifestation # PompiersEnColère pic.twitter.com/eDi2o7JJmr

The national demonstration on October 15 gathered between 7,000 and 10,000 people, according to the unions. It had been peppered with some tension after the arrival of the procession at Place de la Nation, where the police had used tear gas and water launchers to disperse the demonstrators.

The intensity of the #pompiers demonstration is once again incommensurate with any other type of manifestation. Very well equipped, they give a hard time to the FDO, forcing with their bare hands the riot barriers and climbing even on the water cannons. pic.twitter.com/578LuK0g4I

Professional firefighters represent 16% of the 247,000 firefighters in France, the rest being volunteers or soldiers.

This new demonstration is part of a strike movement started in June, very followed according to the unions even if it did not cause major disruptions, the firefighters being obliged to minimum service.

AFP

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