They go to work… and find the door closed: the mind-blowing return to work for six Nîmes employees

The six employees expected their employment contract to be taken over by Elior… which assures that they will stay with Elite. ADB – ADB

Employees at Elite Restauration, within the Maison de Santé Protestante, they expected the new collective catering service provider, Elior, to take over their employment contract on September 1st. But the latter denies the resumption of said employment contracts.

A cold shower at the start of the school year for six permanent employees of the Elite catering group. "We showed up at 8:30 a.m. as usual at our workplace in the central kitchen on Roosevelt Avenue, which is located within the Protestant retirement home. No one wanted to open the door for us."

Camille Tavares, Daniel Bonn, Hanne Giroud, Mireilla Maituku, Miranda Kramkowski, and Kahana Colin are administrative secretaries, head chefs, allotment managers, multi-skilled catering employees, and cold chain managers… Some of them have been working in the Elite Restoration company for more than ten years.

On July 30, 2024, they received a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt signed by Elite Human Resources Director Aurélie Haghebaert entitled “Information note on the continuation of your employment contract”.

“The service contract between the Elite Restauration Group and the Protestant Health House Association (MSP) was terminated on February 6, 2024, with services effective on the evening of August 31, 2024. We were informed by the management of the association that the new catering service provider would be the company Elior. Thus, in accordance with amendment no. 3 of February 26, 1986 to the collective agreement for staff in collective catering companies, your employment contract will continue within this company”, writes the HRD

She also informs that “the new service provider undertakes to maintain in particular your qualification, the overall equivalence of your remuneration, as well as your seniority”, before referring to the HRD of Elior for any “questions on the terms of the transfer of your contract."

A month later, on August 28, the Elior company contacted by the employees denies the resumption of their contracts. In a letter signed, this time, by Virginie Jest, head of human resources at Elior, it is written:“Our company was selected by the MSP of Nîmes, following a call for tenders to take over the catering offer of five establishments […] The market that will be taken over by our company does not include the site of the UCP of Nîmes (central kitchen) to which you are assigned. Also, our company will not take over your employment contract as of September 1, 2024, your contract will therefore continue within Elite restauration.”

Not wanting to be caught out, the employees nevertheless went to the workplace on September 1, after their holidays. The management of the MSP, while regretting the situation, did not open the doors to them. "We understand the dismay of these people. But we explained to them that this transition of service provider did not go through us at all", explained Anne Lénart, the director of the MSP. The employees have informed the labor inspectorate and are in despair about their situation. "We all have bills, rent to pay… We do not understand why we were left without news all summer. Everyone is passing the buck". In the absence of any change in the situation, the employees, in despair, are considering taking the matter to the industrial tribunal.

The HR directors of the companies Elite Restauration and Elior have not responded to our calls.