A letter resembling a cry for help, signed by 52 agents of the Walloon parliament, was sent to the entire assembly this Thursday morning. The staff describes the “climate of terror” that reigns in the institution, and calls on political leaders to “take their responsibilities” vis-à-vis the clerk.
The staff describes the “climate of terror” that has reigned within the registry for several years. “Mr Janssens’ authoritarianism, his pressures, his threats, his anger, his insults, his humiliations as well as his psychological – and sometimes physical – violence have created a deleterious atmosphere, a climate of terror and a resignation to silence which impact our work in the service of parliamentarians and citizens and, even beyond that, our private life as well as our mental and physical health,” the document reads. “For years, we have been helpless witnesses to the early departure or the sudden fall of many colleagues who have been psychologically damaged over the long term by toxic management. »
Agents are calling on politicians to act. “The political world has closed its eyes for too long to these abuses of power which have lasted for more than a decade, of which it was however perfectly aware, and we can no longer admit it (…). We ask you to take your responsibilities and no longer condone this unacceptable situation because this impunity can no longer last. »
These staff members wish “to be received and heard, urgently and individually, in the presence of an outside and neutral person” in order to be able to present their point of view and detail the actions of the clerk of which they have claimed to be victims for years.
The Bureau is meeting precisely this Thursday morning, from 9:30 a.m., to discuss this sensitive issue.
Here is a reproduction of the content of this letter, in full
“Namur, September 15, 2022
Mr. President, Madam and Mr. Vice-Presidents, Ladies and Gentlemen, Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Bureau,
Your communiqué of the 13th current did not fail to challenge a majority of us. The revelations of the article Evening hardly surprised us, but in the face of a death threat, backed up by a recording, we expected more from you. At the heart of democracy, an illegal act that seems to go unpunished is all the more revolting, and justifying it by any context is beyond all comprehension.
We are proud to work in the service of democracy, we are very involved in our tasks and we do not spare our efforts on a daily basis. Moreover, the deputies see it. We nevertheless feel abandoned to our fate and soiled by the managerial techniques of the one who has authority over us in your name and which tarnishes the image of parliament. The political world has closed its eyes for too long to these abuses of power which have lasted for more than a decade, of which it was however perfectly aware, and we can no longer admit it.
This is not the first time that a complaint has been lodged once morest Mr. Janssens and that acts of harassment have been reported by the press. For years, we have been helpless witnesses to the early departure or the sudden fall of many colleagues who have been psychologically damaged over the long term by toxic management. Two out of four managers are burnt out, not to mention the many civil servants who have had and have to live with this terrible illness following long years of unfailing dedication to the institution.
It is our duty to support them and come out of our reserve so that these actions unworthy of a senior official stop once and for all.
Mr. Janssens’ authoritarianism, his pressures, his threats, his anger, his insults, his humiliations as well as his psychological – and sometimes physical – violence have created a deleterious atmosphere, a climate of terror and a resignation to silence which impact our work in the service of parliamentarians and citizens, and, even beyond that, our private life as well as our mental and physical health.
He denounces an absenteeism for which he is responsible and, like an arsonist firefighter, he claims to want to fight it.
You mention social dialogue. Too often, we have only witnessed pretense of dialogue which has never succeeded, in particular for lack of real confidentiality and impartiality.
By this courageous step in view of the context of terror and denunciation in which we live on a daily basis, we ask you to take your responsibilities and no longer condone this unacceptable situation because this impunity can no longer last.
We therefore ask you, this time, to support us and take our situation into account when making future decisions concerning us. We ask to be received and heard, urgently and individually, in the presence of an outside and neutral person.
We would also like to point out that contrary to what we have read in the press, this message is in no way linked to any revision of the statute. These methods aimed at discrediting us mobilize us more because our well-being at work is much more important to us than the financial aspect and the advantages linked to our function.
