Fabien Piersanti: "Women do good to the image of our profession"
Why a group for women in BTP within the Fédération du BTP? And why celebrate them? Questions that the president of BTP du Var has answered.
Originally, when this community was created in 1998, it was to meet a simple expectation from women: to participate in the meetings of the Fédération. Present and active in companies, absent and ignored at the Fédération, a new door had to be opened for them. This is the origin of this group.
ESSENTIAL COMPONENT "At the time, the role of women in companies was to handle administrative tasks. They were confined to the office to manage the social aspects of the company, accounting, supplier management, and they did not participate in union life. However, not attending meetings was a real handicap because that is where information was found.
Information did not circulate as much as it does today thanks to the digital tools we have to monitor regulations. The feeling of exclusion was real among women, especially those who were not managers but contributed to the company's life and whom the group made it possible to involve," recalled the head of the federation.
« À l’époque, la fonction des femmes dans les entreprises était d’assurer les tâches administratives. Elles étaient cantonnées au bureau pour prendre en charge le volet social de l’entreprise, la comptabilité, la gestion des fournisseurs et elles ne participaient pas à la vie syndicale. Or, ne pas assister aux réunions était un véritable handicap car on y trouvait de l’information. Une information qui ne circulait pas autant qu’aujourd’hui grâce aux moyens numériques dont nous disposons pour assurer la veille réglementaire. Le sentiment d’exclusion était alors réel chez les femmes, notamment celles qui n’étaient pas dirigeantes mais qui contribuaient à la vie de l’entreprise et que le groupe a permis d’associer », a rappelé le patron de la fédération. En un peu plus de 25 ans, cette communauté s’est agrandie, elle a changé et elle s’est imposée comme une composante essentielle de la Fédération. Bref, le stade ultime de la normalisation de la présence des femmes au sein de la Fédération serait que ce groupe disparaisse pour que les femmes s’invitent dans les délégations territoriales, dans les commissions et dans les sections métiers.
In just over 25 years, this community has grown, changed, and established itself as an essential component of the Fédération. In short, the ultimate stage of normalizing the presence of women within the Fédération would be for this group to disappear so that women invite themselves into local delegations, commissions, and trade sections.
WOMEN OF COMMITMENT "It turns out they are already there, both in quantity and quality, with several of these components being chaired or led by women. So, as long as this community is useful and women support it to take part in the Fédération's activities, I see no reason to challenge its usefulness.
To the question 'why celebrate them so much?', I would answer: because they are worth it, and also because they do good to our profession, to its image, and because their presence makes us better. The vitality of a professional organization like ours is measured by its union life.
By the way it occupies the field, enlivens its network of members, and influences its environment. Beyond our representativeness and influence, which are indisputable, this vigor is materialized in the mobilizations it sparks and its capacity to bring forward new representatives," recalled Fabien Piersanti.
Thus, the BTP women's group of the Var ticks all the boxes. This full-fledged component of the Fédération mobilizes in large numbers, reveals committed women, and shows a modern, dusted-off image of the BTP industry. In both form and substance, it is one of the showcases that best illustrates the energy and dynamics of the profession and the professional union.
For the president of the BTP du Var: "In Var, we owe these observations to the 27-year history of BTP women, to their successive presidents, Josette Sagnard, Janine Loire, Sylvie Mentor. We also, and above all, owe it to the recent action of Valérie Marrone, who brought the group into another dimension by making it shine outwardly like never before, sparking interest and even creating vocations, as recently seen with the launch of the 'Femmes de l'UPV' collective."
ENERGY AND CONVICTION At that moment, Fabien Piersanti thanked Valérie Marrone for the work she accomplished over 6 years: "Allow me to congratulate you on your ability to mobilize and connect people. I do not know where you get all your energy, but it is remarkable, and your union and professional commitment deserves to be commended. This evening is therefore yours, just as much as it is that of Carine Gonzalez who will succeed you," added the head of the federation.
Already, the young woman is showing boundless energy and great power of conviction to lead her peers in the path she will carve out. "I am certain you have all the qualities to be the president who will maintain a strong ambition for BTP women and for the Fédération, of which I know you are a faithful, passionate supporter. Thank you for helping to cast a different light on the Fédération du BTP du Var and for holding high its values of unity, solidarity, friendly exchanges, but also the fight to defend and promote building and public works professions, their businesses, and their jobs," the president concluded with enthusiasm.
Photos: Jade GRIMA.