"Work more to earn more": the Region invokes a Sarkozyist slogan for its employees, the opposition denounces a "new smokescreen"
In a resolution passed this Thursday, June 26, during the Plenary Assembly, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region will propose that its employees waive part of their RTT in exchange for a salary increase of between €1,200 and €2,200. The opposition, however, denounces this as a "publicity stunt and a new smokescreen."
This is a deliberation that takes us back almost 20 years, to the time when a certain Nicolas Sarkozy was president. This Thursday, June 25, 2025, the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region presented to the Plenary Assembly a deliberation entitled "Work more to earn more: the region is acting for the purchasing power of its 8,800 employees." This deliberation proposes to implement, starting September 1 , 2025, and for one year, an experiment allowing employees who wish to do so to convert part of their RTT into salary.
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" We have a particular attachment to what work represents," Fabrice Pannekoucke began before the Assembly. " The objective of this report is to restore the value of work and to promote the commitment of employees ," continued the Regional President. Specifically, employees who wish to do so will be able to choose to convert 15 of their 27 RTTs into salary in a time savings account that will then be monetized. " We will be the first to do this in France, " welcomed Laurent Wauquiez's successor.
" Today, a majority of our employees are already opting for longer working hours than the 35-hour week, " continues Fabrice Pannekoucke, who explains that this experiment aims to achieve 5% additional productivity. In anticipation of this text, which was passed by a large majority, the Region explains that it has set aside a budget of €100,000. This figure will, if necessary, be revised upwards depending on the number of volunteer employees.
This proposal, " straight out of an old Nicolas Sarkozy communications manual, " according to Maxime Meyer of the Ecologists group, has so far been rejected by most unions. " They don't want to be complicit in this charade ," continues the regional opposition councilor, calling the text " a communications operation and a new smokescreen ."
" Behind a title straight from the depths of Sarkozy's thinking, this measure presented as a purchasing power measure, risks in reality worsening inequalities. The monetization amounts of RTT, set by ministerial decree, vary according to the hierarchical category " denounces the Socialist, Ecologist and Democrat group. " In reality, what you are proposing is working more to earn less, because this extra day of work will not be paid as much as an additional day of work " adds Jean-Baptiste Baud. " Working more does not necessarily mean earning more... especially when you lose your health and your personal life, " continues the opposition group.
" This is a deliberation based on freedom. The 35-hour week hasn't harmed our country; it's ruined France, " Laurent Wauquiez replied in the regional assembly. " What we're proposing is to break the taboo surrounding the 35-hour week ," the former regional president concluded.
Depending on their salary and category, volunteer agents could earn between €1,245 and €2,250 gross annually, according to figures provided by the local authority. According to the region, this is " valuable assistance " for the approximately 8,800 agents in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.
Lyon Capitale
