The Rebel Guardian of the Iron Lady: Nada Bzioui's Story

Monday 18 March 2024 - 10:15

At the iconic Eiffel Tower, Nada Bzioui, a 50-year-old team leader, stands as the guardian of France's most celebrated monument and those who sustain its grandeur. In February, she spearheaded a successful strike, securing the future of the company that manages this emblematic Parisian landmark.

Whenever Bzioui returns to her native Morocco and informs her interlocutors of her workplace – the Eiffel Tower – the announcement never fails to make an impression. Unabashedly proud of the prestige surrounding her place of employment, a symbol of France and its capital, Bzioui's journey at the Société d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE) began serendipitously in 1998 when she took a part-time job there during her business studies. She remained, driven by a love for human interaction and the camaraderie that permeates the workplace.

"If you can't handle working in crowds, enduring both cold and heat, this job isn't for you," warns Bzioui, who became a team leader in 2018. Among the 360 employees, three reception teams alternate year-round, including weekends and holidays, with each person working three days, three evenings, followed by three days off. "We see our team more than our families!"

Despite hailing from a background with little affinity for trade unionism, Bzioui joined the Force Ouvrière (FO) union in 2003. "Some aspects of the company's operations outraged me," she recounts. "I've always been a rebel at heart. Even as a child, I had to defend my peers. I found my calling!" Successively elected to the CHSCT (Health, Safety, and Working Conditions Committee), the CSE (Social and Economic Committee), and then as a union representative, Bzioui became an FO union delegate in 2022.

Underestimated Renovation Costs

Driven by an unwavering commitment to intelligently combat injustice – without systematic confrontation – for the collective good, Bzioui orchestrated a prolonged strike at SETE in February, where FO garnered 30% of the votes in professional elections. At stake was the economic viability of the monument, of which the City of Paris holds a 99% stake, and which SETE operates under a public service delegation contract running from 2017 to 2030.

"From the outset, this model was absurd because it was based on an anticipated 7.4 million visitors per year," Bzioui points out. "However, in 2023, there were only 6.3 million visitors." In addition to this miscalculation, the budget for renovation works was also underestimated. Furthermore, while the fee that SETE owes the City of Paris is set to increase to 50 million euros, employees sounded the alarm over this hike. An amendment to this public service delegation contract is due to be voted on at the Paris Council by the end of May. "We demand that this revision be viable and have no impact on payroll."

Five days of striking and the loss of 100,000 admissions allowed for significant leverage in the negotiations. "We've made good progress," the delegate proudly states, "and we were received at City Hall on March 1st: their representatives are not closed to dialogue. Their primary concern is ensuring the Olympic Games run smoothly." The unity between the two unions enabled employees to defend their future and that of the Iron Lady. "Among ourselves, we call it the little Gallic village," Bzioui jokes. "We have our squabbles and tensions, but when an outside attack comes, we unite and raise our shields."