“Why a civil servant can go away
Croix Rousse market. Photo: Aline Duchene
“If I go on a trip for a month, I won’t have a job when I get back“, explains Michel Segura, bewildered by the new rules governing the markets announced by the city of Lyon. A trader on the Croix-Rousse market for twenty years, he has always taken his vacations in summer, during the months of July and December. august, when customers are scarcer at his charcutier-rôtisseur-caterer stand.
Until now, a merchant could be absent for up to eight weeks, without losing either his place or his job. Today, the city announces that it wants to reduce this period to four weeks. And it does not pass on the side of the fairgrounds: “Why can a civil servant go on vacation and not us?“, asks Michel Segura, in incomprehension in the face of this new measure. For him, market traders are business leaders like the others and will benefit from the same rights.
Umbrellas instead of barnums
Another element of contention: the ban on the use of barnums, the large collapsible tents used by fairground people to protect the stands from rain and sun. “We’ll have to put umbrellas to leave room on the sidewalk“, laments the trader, who explains that in the event of rain, the barnums are the most effective in retaining water.
Michel Segura is not the only one to be upwind on the Croix-Rousse market this Saturday morning. Malik Mouellef, merchant at a fruit and vegetable stand, is busy. Today, he is having a petition signed against the new rules announced by the city. “I received 40 signatures, we will continue“, he explains.
Heaters removed
Among these misunderstandings, the ‘returns’, the tables posted on the sides of the stands, will become chargeable. The heaters will be removed. “How’s the winter going?”, worries Malik Mouellef. A general feeling hovers among market stallholders: they feel excluded from the decisions that concern them. Also, they feel like they don’t get the same treatment as other non-market traders.
“Why does the town hall want to modify the markets in Lyon? I don’t understand, these new rules are unacceptable.“
Dominique Recchia, Vice-President of the National Federation of French Markets.
It’s not the first time that carnies have been angry in the region. Villeurbanne merchants recently launched a legal action to defend their rights following the closure of the Grandclément market with the arrival of the T6 tram. “Why does the town hall want to modify the markets in Lyon? I don’t understand, these new rules are unacceptable.“, indignant Dominique Recchia, vice-president of the National Federation of the markets of France.
Cleaner markets
The city of Lyon has not responded to requests for an interview from Lyon Capitale on the subject but has been attributed to our colleagues from BFM Lyon that these new measures were based on a study carried out with a thousand customers. “We have identified points for improvement: more organic, more local, having cleaner markets and being able to circulate better on the markets.said Camille Augey, Deputy Mayor of Lyon in charge of employment.
Demonstrations awaited by the showmen are expected soon in Croix-Rousse and elsewhere. The merchants hope to win their case and find compromises with the City, so that they can continue to work as they have done for decades.