He is without doubt one of the faces of the Rennes demonstrations. A voice too, which repeats every time “my expensive comrades” whereas calling for a strike and the protection of staff. For years, Fabrice Lerestif has been used to main the processions – typically agitated – which parade via the streets of the Breton capital: Labor legislation, pension reform… The person with the thick beard is at all times there, with this want to harangue the group whereas making an attempt to delay the most radical elements. Demonstration is certainly one of its technique of expression.
But when just one needed to be saved, the chief of the Drive Ouvrière union would with out hesitation select that of the May 1st. “As a result of it’s our day.” Staff’ day, commerce unionists’ day,” testifies the departmental secretary of FO. This Friday, he participated in his fiftieth Could Day.
The primary time was Could 1, 1976. “I used to be going to be 15 years previous. I had been there alone. I wished to see what it was, I wished to grasp issues. I imagine that I already had this idea of social justice », says Fabrice Lerestif. Since then, the departmental head of Drive Ouvrière has not missed a single Could 1 demonstration. “The one time I didn’t march was in 2020. As a result of we had been forbidden to take action. We had tried all the things with the prefecture however we had been unable to do something. I used to be made to grasp that I used to be being watched and that I had no real interest in leaving my home. »
“The Worldwide” within the empty streets
Fabrice Lerestif subsequently stayed at house, pissed off at not having the ability to have fun this vital day in his calendar. “However a number of comrades had related a sound system to a automotive. That they had spent hours driving round Rennes passing the Worldwide. Everybody talked to us about it afterwards. »
The pandemic receded and the unions had been in a position to progressively return to the streets. The chief of FO in Ille-et-Vilaine then took his microphone once more to name for “a normal strike” to “block the French productive equipment”. In useless. In 2023, after a protracted mobilization, the employees’ unions did not cancel the pension reform. The will remained, however the blow was laborious to take.
“They spit in our faces”
This Friday, the Rennes demonstration introduced collectively between 1,700 contributors, in line with the prefecture, and 4,000, in line with the unions. Disappointing? Not even. As a result of for the commerce unionist, the principle factor is to combat. And to shout out his want to defend staff’ rights on this very big day. “All these elected officers who need to make us work immediately, this authorities… They insult us, they spit in our faces. Could 1st have to be a sanctuary. »
It was with a bit of emotion that he spoke within the sq. within the Blosne district, the place the comrades had been assembly. As a result of after 13 years as departmental secretary of Drive Ouvrière, the person will hand over in November. Was it his final Could 1st? “I don’t actually prefer it when individuals say that, it looks like they’re writing my obituary,” the FO activist slips with a smile, earlier than recognizing that there’s “emotion.” He’ll proceed to scroll there with out slipping away. With the identical ardour, however with extra discretion.
