It is rare enough to be underlined: CGT, CFDT, FO, CFTC and CFE-CGC have united at the national level, to to denounce the attitude of the State in the procedures initiated by the former minors to have their cancers, silicosis and other respiratory diseases recognized as occupational diseases.
For several years, according to these unions, the State Judicial Agent, who represents the interests of the company Charbonnages de France, which has since disappeared, systematically challenges the exposure of former employees to toxic and carcinogenic products, thus delaying thousands of files. They do not hesitate to speak of behavior worthy of a “rogue state”.
Lorraine is obviously concerned, with the miners of the coalfield, but also those of the salt mines, iron… in a word, all the affiliates of the mining regime.
Thousands of pending cases
Why do these difficulties appear only now? Because if the mines closed years ago, it is now that the former employees fall ill, and that they begin the procedure to be recognized as an occupational disease, and to be compensated accordingly. However, hundreds, thousands of files are rejected, or are delayed in being examined. First, because exposure to toxic products is almost systematically challenged by state representatives or their lawyers. “We feel a mistrust of the whole corporation“, denounces Richard Caudy, of the CGT Mines. “It’s not acceptable. The victims have suffered in their flesh, and they are denied their rights, while the findings and procedures are often favorable to them.“.
Another pitfall that makes files last interminably: pieces that get lost. The unions are asking for more than a simple acknowledgment of receipt: proof that Social Security is processing a particular file. “We are no longer even sure, today, that the files are properly taken care of, because the services that deal with these questions lack the means“, explains Richard Caudy.
Trade unions therefore call on those who would be concerned to get closer to themto investigate their request and appeals.
No response from the ministry yet.
A letter was sent on February 24 to Bruno Le Maire, the Minister of the Economy (supervision, principal), to ask to be received, and to demand an end to this relentlessness, but it remains unanswered for the moment.