Paris (AFP)

Blow of drama at the "Ségur de la santé": the new Prime Minister Jean Castex was invited Tuesday to a decisive meeting with the unions, announcing an extension of more than a billion euros for wages and adding "the questions jobs "on the negotiating menu.

The surprise was revealed shortly after 7:00 p.m. by a tweet from the head of government, accompanied by a photo showing him alongside Minister of Health Olivier Véran and "Ségur" host Nicole Notat.

"Before the conclusion of the Ségur de la santé, I opened the negotiation meeting with the paramedics," said Mr. Castex, whose presence had not been announced at this meeting, which started at 6:00 p.m.

The Prime Minister, who took office on Friday, stayed for about an hour, before letting Olivier Véran continue the discussions. "He showed his commitment", assured the entourage of Mr. Castex, evoking a "strong symbol".

The Prime Minister, especially, did not come empty handed. "I announced an envelope of 7.5 billion euros", 1.1 billion more than the envelope proposed last week to upgrade non-medical personnel, he said.

This increase "is significant, on a basis that was already historic," insisted Matignon. The executive had already conceded on Thursday a first extension of 400 million, bringing to 6.4 billion the envelope for hospital staff.

Despite this new financial gesture, the unions said they were disappointed Tuesday evening with this new negotiation session. In question: the distribution of the envelope between general increase, revision of salary scales and redesign of bonuses.

The unions have long demanded an additional 300 euros net for all hospital workers in the public sector.

But the government wants to extend the measure to the private sector and introduce a share of collective "profit-sharing" in remuneration.

"With these measures, the envelope available for the general increase in wages can not exceed 165 euros. It is far too little," said a union official Tuesday evening, regretting not "being heard".

At this stage, "the unions are not satisfied with the proposals," confirmed a second union source, calling on the government to give itself "the additional means" to "reach" an agreement.

Negotiations, interrupted after six hours of talks, must resume Wednesday at 2:00 p.m.

- 15,000 job creations -

For unions, a second point is causing tension: that of the workforce. During his speech, Jean Castex indicated that he "insisted that employment issues should also be included in the negotiations".

"Each hospital will be invited to carry out a shared diagnosis of the situation of its staff (vacancies, absenteeism, training needs ...) and its activities," said the entourage of the Prime Minister.

While the increase in membership demanded by the unions has not been part of the discussion until now, 15,000 job creations are now on the table, according to a union source, who evokes a "positive point".

But these hirings would be financed from the same envelope as the salary increases. What the unions oppose, which threatens not to sign the agreement proposed by the government.

According to a participant, the Prime Minister wants to "conclude" the "Ségur" quickly, with a "memorandum of understanding" finalized by Thursday and submitted for signature by Friday. This leaves little room for negotiation.

Same tempo for hospital doctors who must be received at the ministry Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. Dissatisfied with the 600 million euros of revaluations which were offered to them last week, hospital, internal and student practitioners hope for at least double this.

Other subjects should also be the subject of simple recommendations, including investment, for which several billion euros are also mentioned.

Decisions are also expected in the area of ​​"simplification", notably with a rebalancing of power between directors and hospital doctors, and in the area of ​​territorial reorganization of the health system.

Emmanuel Macron, who will speak on July 14, could himself announce the result of this vast consultation launched at the end of May and supposed to give concrete form to the "massive plan" promised at the height of the coronavirus epidemic.

© 2020 AFP