France

Union confederation calls for higher minimum wage

The CGT trade union confederation has attacked the government for only keeping to the minimum rise in the national minimum wage as required by law. The minimum wage was increased by only 0.9% (eight euro cents) on 1July. The Confederation is concerned about levels of pay generally across the economy noting that, for the first time in 25 years, average hourly salaries are increasing at a slower rate than inflation. The CGT is calling on workers to join the demonstrations on 7 October called by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the call has been backed by other federations organising in the public sector, including the FSU. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FSU (FR)

Court rules against representation of outsourced workers

Unions have attacked a recent ruling by the constitutional court that says that employees of sub-contractors should not be counted in the election of workplace representatives. Trade unions argue that it is vital that all employees in a workplace, including those working on outsourced contracts should be able to elect workplace representatives in order to deal with the working conditions faced by all employees at the same workplace. The unions emphasise that outsourced workers need this kind of protection in particular because they are often in a more precarious employment situation than directly employed workers. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > CGT (FR)

EDF sub-contractor charged with underpaying employees

In a case lasting over two years, an employment tribunal has ordered a Polish company, Polimex, to pay €10,000 in compensation to one of its employees. The CGT trade union’s mines and energy federation took the case when it discovered the Polish workers employed by an EDF subcontractor working at the Porcheville power station had not received wages to which they were entitled and had put up with poor working and living conditions. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Growth in precarious employment among elder- and childcare workers

The CGT federation has pointed to a recent study showing the significant growth in local authority employment of “animateurs”, effectively workers who organise a range of cultural and other activities for children and older people. The number of animateurs grew by more than 70% between 2001 and 2006, most are part time and just under two-thirds don’t have public servant status and so don’t benefit from the same employment conditions and protection as most other local authority workers. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Unions call for action on working conditions

Public sector unions had talks earlier this month with the Ministry for the Public Service over working conditions with a particular emphasis on health and safety. The view of the CFDT put the focus on health and safety and argued that there is adequate protection in existing European and national legislation but that the challenge was to ensure these were applied across the public sector. The union also argued against including the issue of employing older workers within the general discussions on working conditions. UNSA also raised key health and safety issues calling for more action on prevention particularly regarding muscular-skeletal and psychological disorders. The union criticised the government for failing to organise a central health and safety committee meeting so far in 2008. Read more at > CFDT (FR) Read more at > UNSA (FR)

Unions leave meeting as minister insists on pay offer

The long-running conflict over collective bargaining in the public sector continues following the decision by public service trade union federations to leave a meeting with public service minister Eric Woerth. The Federations wanted to negotiate over pay and a range of other demands but Woerth simply insisted that the government would stick by its plans to raise pay across the public sector by 0.8% in 2008 and 2009 and 0.5% in 2010 and 2011. The unions demanded that the government agree to proper negotiations but received no immediate response following the abandoned meeting. Read more at > UGFF-CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR)

Five federations mobilise over pay in private health sector

The FO, CGT, CFDT, CFTC and CFE-CGC union federations have called on their members in the private health sector to mobilise to demand a higher pay offer. The Federation of Private Hospitals has offered pay increases in 2008 based on those for the public sector - 0.3% from 1 March and 0.5% from 1 October. It has also agreed a further 1% increase from 1 July. The unions have rejected this as inadequate bearing in mind the loss of purchasing power of health workers over the past 10 years and the levels of profits of the private hospitals. A series of strikes and demonstrations took place around the country on 18 June. Read more at > FO (FR)

Public service federations unanimously reject government proposals on mobility

The eight trade union federations in the public services have signed a joint letter declaring their opposition to government proposals on increasing worker mobility across the public sector. The unions argue that rather than enhancing career development, the measures are mainly aimed at increasing flexibility, undermining the pay and grading system and providing opportunities to make more budget cuts. Read more at > FO (FR)

Unions call for pay negotiations to re-open at EDF

In the light of the recent surge in inflation, unions at the EDF energy company have called on the company to start negotiations over pay in line with regulations that provide for a re-opening of pay talks. There is also a call for the company to provide compensation for travelling to work, with a demand for EDF to pay for 60% of each employee’s monthly travel costs if they use public transport and a €200-a-year contribution towards fuel costs for those not using public transport. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Government responds to strike with minimum service requirement

French trade unions have reacted angrily to the failure of the government to respond to their demands following a day of action on 15 May. Unions are continuing to call for higher pay and protection of public services in the face of the government’s failure to negotiate and its major reform plans. The unions also reject the government’s claims of low levels of support for the strike and the use of temporary workers in the education sector during the strike. The government also drew a strong reaction from trade unions when it imposed new rules on minimum service levels in local authorities during strike action. Unions also mobilised for another day of action on 22 May in protest at government pension reforms. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR) Read the EPSU solidarity message at > EPSU (FR)

Unions plan day of action against government plans for public service

Six public sector trade union federations are planning a day of demonstrations and strike action on 15 May in protest at the latest government proposals to reform the public service. A bill that will affect worker mobility and career patterns in the public service is being considered by the Senate but these are reforms that the unions reject and that have been put forward without any discussion or negotiation with the trade unions. The unions believe the government’s plans for the public service involve job cuts of between 35,000 and 40,000 a year and widespread privatisation. They are calling for an open debate about the plans, protection of public servants’ statutory rights and higher pay for civil servants. Read joint union communication at > UGFF-CGT (FR) And also FO call for action at > FO Fonctionnaires (FR)

Trade unions unite to oppose pension reforms

The main trade union federations are uniting in a demonstration on 22 May to protest against the government’s latest pension reforms. The unions want to see the pension system retained with retirement at 60, recognition of strenuous and dangerous work in terms of pension entitlement and more action to reduce the gender pensions gap. Read more at > CFDT (FR) And at > UNSA (FR)

Unions criticise government’s public sector policies

Two public service federations are calling for action in the week beginning 13 May in protest at the government’s policies on the public services, the so-called RGPP - Révision Générale des Politiques Publiques (General revisions of policies on the public sector). The CGT’s UGFF section is planning a week of strikes and demonstrations while FO’s FGF federation is focussing on 15 May. The unions argue that the government wants to cut services, reduce the number of public service workers and hand over more services to the private sector. The FGF points out that inflation in France has already reached 0.9% this year while public sector pay increased by only 0.5% in May. The CFDT confederation reports that prospects for social dialogue appear bleak with public service minister Hervé Morin saying there is nothing to discuss in terms of how the RGPP is to be implemented. Read more at > FO-FGF (FR) And at > CGT-UGFF (FR) And at > CFDT (FR)

Pensions demonstration called by civil service union

The FO-Fonctionnaires civil service trade union is calling on members to join local demonstrations on 16 April to protest over pension reforms. The union wants to make it clear that 40 years of contributions are already too much and that increases to 41 or 42 years are completely unacceptable. The union believes that everyone should retain the right to retire at 60. Read more at > FO (FR)

Federations call for day of strikes and demonstrations over pensions

The CGT and FSU public service trade union federations have called a day of action and strikes on 29 March in defence of the pensions system including retaining the right to retire at 60 and the right to early retirement in difficult or dangerous occupations. The unions also point out that the government’s failure to address the decline in purchasing power in the public sector will also have an impact on the level of pensions. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FSU (FR)

Government fails to meet key trade union demands

The government has made some concessions towards public sector unions but not enough to get some of the main unions to sign an agreement that would end their campaign over pay. The government has moved on the need for annual negotiations and for a review of the public sector pay scale. However, the unions are unhappy about the failure to address the loss of purchasing power for public sector workers over recent years and the government’s response is to offer a pay increase in 2008 worth around 0.5% when inflation is forecast to reach 1.6%. The actual increases will be 0.5% in March and 0.3% in October which the government is trying to present as 0.8% for the year as a whole. The government is talking about providing an individual guarantee of inflation protection rather than one achieved through a general pay increase for all workers. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR) And at > CFDT FR)

Government proposals don’t answer all union demands

The results of negotiations between the public service trade unions and the Public Service Minister have fallen short of union expectations. The pay increase offered for this year will be 0.5% from 1 March and 0.3% from 1 October, unlikely to provide protection against inflation this year. The unions are also still waiting for a clear response from the government on full renegotiation of the public sector pay scale that covers around five million workers in the three main areas of the public sector - regional and local authorities, health and the ministries. The Public Service Ministry has proposed some kind of individual guarantee to protect purchasing power of public sector salaries but unions are concerned that it is another part of an approach towards individualisation of salaries. They are also not convinced by government plans to switch to a three-year pattern of salary negotiation. Read more at > CGT (FR) Read more at > FO (FR) Read more at > FSU (FR)

Hundreds of thousands back day of action on 24 January

Public service federations were delighted by the level of support across the country for the strikes and demonstrations over pay and collective bargaining. In response the government has offered to meet for talks on 18 February. But unions are also concerned that at the same time the government is talking about restricting the right to strike in the education sector. Unions want proper negotiations to begin in the first week of February and are calling on members to maintain pressure on the government through local actions and in particular during the “week for public services” organised by the government between 1 and 8 February. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Unions continue demonstrations while negotiating over pensions

Energy and transport sector federations in the CGT confederation continue to mobilise their members over their special retirement rights while negotiating with the government over proposed changes. Over 50,000 are estimated to have joined the national demonstration on 22 February, maintaining the momentum of the strikes and demonstrations that unions have been organising since last October when the planned reforms were first announced. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)

24 January is next strike date for public sector unions

A meeting with the public service minister in December failed to produce any response from the government on public sector pay that satisfied the majority of trade unions. Six of the seven public sector federations have decided to take further action to keep the pressure on the government to agree to proper collective negotiations and an inflation-plus pay increase for 2008. The six unions have called a national strike for 24 January. Read more at > CGT (FR) Read more at > FO (FR) Read more at > UNSA (FR)

Demonstration over special retirement schemes

The energy, rail and transport federations within the CGT confederation are planning a national demonstration on 22 January to maintain opposition to government plans to reform the special retirement schemes that cover these workers in the public sector. The CGT rejects plans to increase the number of years of contributions required to get a full pension and also opposes breaking the index link with salaries. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Public sector strike gets reaction from government

The public sector national strike on 20 November appears to have had an initial positive result for the eight trade union federations involved with the promise of talks with the government on 17 December. The government has said it is willing to talk about reform of the pay system in the public sector and annual negotiations on pay beginning in autumn 2008 for an increase in 2009. The unions are looking for a pay rise from the beginning of 2008 along with compensation for the erosion of real pay in recent years, and revision of the pay structure. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Unions warn of further action

The eight public sector union federations argue that their day of strikes and demonstrations on 20 November was a real success and has put pressure on the government to respond to their demands on pay, public sector employment rights and quality public services. They have demanded a response from the government before the end of November and are threatening further action in December if the government fails to respond. Read joint union statement at > CGT (FR)

Strikes and demonstrations planned for 20 November

Public sector union federations have called for a day of action on 20 November in response to the government’s failure to negotiate over pay, pensions and jobs. The unions want to see public service employees compensated for the loss of purchasing power of their salaries over recent years, an end to precarious employment and a retraction of current proposals to reduce pension entitlement. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > CFDT (FR) And at > FO (FR) And at > UNSA (FR) And at > FSU (FR)

Negotiations over pensions follow second day of major strike action

The CGT confederation has proposed a series of sector-based negotiations with employers and the government over proposed changes to the special retirement schemes that cover certain parts of the public service - in particular rail transport and energy. After widespread strike action on 18 October rail and energy workers took action again on 14 November. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)

Public service unions set next day of action

The seven public service unions have announced 20 November, the day parliament votes on the 2008 budget, as the next day of action in protest at the government’s failure to respond adequately to their demands on pay. The unions are looking for a reform of the pay structure and some compensation for the 6.5% loss of purchasing power of public sector workers since 2000. The government has responded with two minor reform proposals but also confirmed its plans to cut a further 22,000 jobs next year. Read more at > UGFF-CGT (FR) And at > UGFF-CGT (FR) And at > FGF-FO (FR) And at > CFDT (FR)

Unions plan further protests over pensions

Energy sector unions were pleased with the level of support for their protests on 18 October and are meeting to plan the next stage in their campaign against government plans to reduce benefits in their pension schemes. The changes would require more years of contribution to secure full benefits and pose a threat to the defined benefits system. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)

Unions take action over public sector negotiations

The CGT and FO trade union federation have organised a day of strike action on 18 October to maintain pressure on the government to establish a proper process of negotiation in the public sector, to increase pay and to change its planned reforms of special retirement plans. A co-ordinated day of action is also being planned by the main union confederations for the middle of November. André Santini, the Secretary of State for the Public Services, said at a conference earlier this month that public services depended on a good social dialogue and that he wanted to establish a social dialogue in the public sector that would be a model for the private sector. Unions are yet to be convinced and have set out a range of demands on both the social dialogue process and the need to tackle the fall in real salary levels across the public sector. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR) And at > CFDT (FR)

Public service federations plan action in November

Seven of the eight union federations in the public services will meet on 26 October to discuss joint action over pay and in opposition to the government’s plans for the public sector which primarily involve the introduction of more private sector practices. Read more at > Liberation newspaper (FR)

Unions attack government plans for special retirement schemes

The FNME-CGT and FNEM-FO energy union federations have attacked the government for the way it has raised the issue of special retirement schemes and tried to divide workers by emphasising the difference between these schemes and general retirement provision. The unions are concerned that the government wants to harmonise all pension arrangements with a requirement of 42 or even 45 years of contributions to assure entitlement to a full pension. The FNME-CGT is calling for strikes and demonstrations on 18 October. The FNEM-FO has also called for a mobilisation to defend the special retirement schemes. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR) And at > FNEM-FO (FR)

Public service federations united in demands for negotiations

The eight trade union federations in the public sector have attacked the government for announcing further cuts in jobs and are demanding immediate negotiations over pay. The unions point out that public sector pay is failing to keep pace with increases in the minimum wage which is now effectively the minimum wage in the public sector. The unions also want a debate over jobs and the impact on services. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Unions fear that minimum service requirement will be extended across public sector

The French parliament will debate a new bill at the end of the month which will set minimum service requirements in the event of industrial action on the railways. French unions are concerned that this will be the first step in establishing similar requirements in other parts of the public sector. The unions counter that before laying down such requirements the government should try to establish improved processes for negotiation in order to avoid such conflicts in the first place. One of the proposals that unions are objecting to is the requirement that employees will have to declare 48 hours in advance if they are going to take part in industrial action. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR) And at > FSU (FR)

Unions set out their demands to new government

Following meetings at the end of May with Eric Woerth, the minister for the budget and public services, the various public service federations have had bilateral meetings with André Santini, the secretary of state for the public service in the new French government. The unions have a range of demands that they have been pressing over recent years. They want negotiations to start immediately over pay including an increase for 2008. They argue that public service workers have seen their real pay fall by 6% in recent years. The unions also expressed their opposition to continuing jobs cuts and want action to tackle increasing precarious employment in the public service. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > FO (FR)

Union protests at failure to negotiate

The FNME energy section of the CGT federation organised a day of demonstrations and industrial action on 7 June in protest at the failure of electricity producer EDF to agree to proper negotiations covering workers in the nuclear power sector. EDF management had proposed a new agreement on social dialogue setting out a wide range of issues to be discussed. However, the union rejected this agreement as it failed to cover the key issues of pay and jobs. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)

Unions raise concerns about extra working hours

One of the first initiatives of the new government of Nicolas Sarkozy is to push through legislation allowing workers to work overtime with no additional tax to pay on the extra hours. Three union confederations, CGT, CFDT and CGC have come together to reject the proposal, arguing that it will create inequalities at work as not all workers will be able to benefit. The FO confederation also has serious concerns pointing out that part-time workers and those on annual hours will not benefit from the new rules and that extra hours are only at the discretion of the employer. FO’s civil service federation says the legislation will apply to public sector workers but complains that there have been no attempts to negotiate with unions over how this will be implemented. Read more at > CGT (FR) Read more at > FO-Fonctionnaires (FR) Read more at > CFDT (FR)

Unions pull out of public sector joint committees

In response to the government’s repeated failure to respond to their demands on pay and jobs, a number of the public service union federations have decided not to participate in the joint committees (commissions administratives/techniques) that discuss individual and collective issues related to careers and working conditions. The CGT confederation is also calling for another day of action - strikes, demonstrations and meetings - on 29 March. Read more at > FO (FR) And at > CGT (FR)

Prime minister rejects unions’ demands

Prime minister Dominique Villepin has refused to discuss union demands for proper negotiations over pay increases and pay structures in the public sector. The unions had contacted him directly following a failure by the public services minister, Christian Jacob, to discuss these issues. The CGT union federation has called for a further day of strikes and demonstrations on 29 March, a day when unions in other sectors, post and telecommunications, have also planned action. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Week of action in energy sector

The energy and mines federation in the CGT confederation is calling for a week of action at the end of March (22-26). The union argues that its members are facing a range of problems over jobs, pay, outsourcing and sub-contracting, stress, trade union rights, retirement and social protection. The union is organising meetings across the sector to draw up a list of demands to put to employers. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Public sector unions put demands on Prime Minister

Following their successful day of action on 8 March, the union federations in the French public sector have called on prime minister Dominique de Villepin to intervene in their dispute with the public services minister and agree to negotiations over pay. The unions have demanded a response by 2 March and will meet together on 5 March to discuss the response and their strategy. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > EPSU (FR)

Six federations back action on 8 February

Six public sector union federations are backing a day of action on pay on 8 February and EPSU has sent a message of support to the unions taking part. The action is another stage in the unions’ long-running campaign to try to bring the government to the negotiating table, to get at least a 1.8% increase on pay this year and then make up for the reduction in purchasing power since 2000. Unions are also concerned about the implications of the government’s planned job cuts for the quality of public services. Read more at > EPSU (FR)

Unions plan day of action over pay and public services

Five of the public service federations have come together to call a day of action with strikes and demonstrations on 8 February. The day of action will the latest stage in a long-running campaign by the unions to try to establish proper negotiations covering the French public sector. Unions were angered by the implications of a statement by the public service minister that linked cuts in public service jobs to higher salaries. The unions want to see a minimum 1.7% increase in 2007 (forecast inflation) and further increases to compensate for the failure to match the rise in prices since 2000. Read more at > CGT

Minister refuses to meet unions

Public services minister Christian Jacob refused to meet union federations at the end of last month. They had requested a meeting to discuss pay in the public sector and their long-running demands for proper pay negotiations. The unions are looking for a minimum pay increase of 1.8% in 2007 to compensate for forecast inflation. The government has so far only said that salaries will increase by 0.5% from February next year. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > (FR)

Unions launch pay petition

Five of the main public services trade unions have come together in campaign over pay and launched a petition calling for an end to the erosion of workers’ purchasing power. The unions argue that this year’s pay increases (0.5% on 1 July and 1% on 1 November) will again mean a cut in real pay and they want an increase of at least 1.8% in 2007 to compensate for forecast inflation. The unions also want a revision of the public sector pay scale and increases to compensate for the loss of purchasing power since 2000. Read more at > UGFF CGT (FR)

Further protest at GDF merger/privatisation planned

The CGT union federation is continuing its campaign against the privatisation of the GDF gas company through merger with the Suez private utility. The union claims that half of GDF employees joined the strikes and demonstrations that took place on 3 October and the next mobilisation is for regional demonstrations on 14 October. The FO federation is also opposed to the merger and following a National Assembly vote in favour of the privatisation, FO is targeting members of the upper house, the Senate, to reject the proposal. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > CGT-FNME (FR) And at > FO-FNEM (FR)

National day of action over GDF privatisation

The four union federations (CGT, FNEM-FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC) are continuing their campaign against the planned privatisation of the GDF gas company through a merger with the private utilities group, Suez. A national day of action will take place on 3 October with a work stoppages and a demonstration in Paris. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Two-day strike in health sector

The health federation of the CGT union is planning a two-day strike on 18 and 19 September in support of six key demands: salaries that reward qualifications and recognise the difficulty of the job, career progression with quotas, a minimum public sector salary of €1,550 a month, improvements in working conditions, urgent plans for training, and better provision for union reps to perform their duties. Read more at > CGT Santé (FR)

Demand for immediate negotiations

Five federations in the public services - CGT, FO, UNSA, FSU and CGC - are demanding immediate pay negotiations in the public sector. They argue that plans for job cuts are undermining the public sector’s ability to meet its service obligations and that this year’s pay increase will reduce even further the purchasing power of public sector workers. Read more at > CGT(FR)

Survey shows gas workers opposed to privatisation

A survey of employees of Gaz de France by the CGT and FO union federations revealed that 94% are against privatisation. The private utility Suez is bidding to takeover the company. The survey was carried out in response to claims by the government and GdF itself that employees were in favour of the sale of the company. The unions are now mobilising for a day of action - including demonstrations and strikes - on 12 September. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)

Unions attack public service job cuts, threats to services and inadequate pay rise

The French government plans to cut 15,000 jobs from the public services in 2007. Public service unions CGT and FO have criticised the proposals arguing that the government has no real strategy for the public sector and is simply aiming to cut back the role of the state. Unions argue that as public service workers face another year with below-inflation pay increases, the quality of public services will suffer. The unions want a proper review of public services and a re-opening of pay negotiations. The 2006 pay increase of 0.5% for public service workers was implemented on 1 July. Read more at > CGT (FR) And at > CGT (FR) And at > EIRO (EN) And at > EIRO (FR)

Unions challenge government’s privatisation claims

The CGT and FO energy unions plan to consult employees of the GDF energy company over the proposed privatisation of the company through merger with the Suez private utility company. The unions are angry that the government repeatedly claims that GDF employees support the privatisation and want to use the consultation to refute this. The unions hope that the consultation planned for 7 September will help it build support for the planned day of action on 12 September. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Union calls for consultation with workers over heat wave emergency measures

The health section of the CGT union federation has criticised the French health minister for failing to invite employee representatives to a recent meeting to discuss how to deal with the heat wave. The union says that this is a snub on workers who are doing their best to make up for deficiencies in the system. The union also points out that the government has failed to respond to its proposals for emergency training provisions which has raised before in negotiations and raised again earlier this year. Read more at > CGT (FR)

Unions attack inadequate rise in minimum wage

Unions have criticised the 3.05% increase in the minimum wage - the SMIC - as being too low. The increase takes the hourly SMIC to €8.27 and the monthly figure to €1,254.28 for a 35-hour week. The SMIC increases each year in line with inflation and an index of workers’ pay. This year the minimum increase required by law was 2.85% but the government added a discretionary 0.3%. Read more at > CGT (FR) Read more at > FO (FR) Read more at > CFDT

Budget for 2007 will mean 15,000 fewer public service jobs

French public service jobs have attacked the government’s proposed budget for 2007 and the planned reduction of the public service workforce by 15,000. The unions argue that the workforce should not be regarded as just another factor to be used to balance the books and warn of the impact on the quality of services if the job cuts are implemented. Read more at > FO (FR) Read more at > CGT (FR)

Call for strike action over unpaid working day

The local government union within the CGT federation has written to the Christian Jacob the public services minister to inform him of a plan for strike action on 5 June. The action is in protest at the government’s insistence that 5 June is no longer a holiday but a day of unpaid work. The union argues that public sector workers are already demoralised by the failure to negotiate real increases in pay in the public sector. Read more at > CGT-FNME

Protests planned over Gaz de France privatisation

Unions in Gaz de France are planning two days of protest against the proposed merger with the French utility company Suez. Unions are angry that the government has approved the effective privatisation of GdF in response to a hostile takeover bid for the company from the Italian utility ENEL. The CGT energy federation FNME has planned a day of protest on 10 June and then will be joined by the FO and CFE-CGC union federations for a joint day of action on 20 June. Read more at > CGT des Services Publics

24-hour strike by hospital doctors

Hospital doctors protested against changes to the arrangements for how they are appointed and to linking their pay to performance. The 24-hour stoppage took place from 18.30 on 11 May. The FO union is concerned about the implications of the new salary arrangements particularly with many hospitals in financial difficulty. They also see it as a step towards privatisation of public hospitals. Read more at > FOSPS

Unions want action on precarious employment

Public service unions have written jointly to the public services minister, Christian Jacob, to demand government action to reduce precarious employment in the public services. The unions want negotiations to start immediately to resolve the situation in the public sector where, according to a recent study the use of short-term contracts is more widespread than in the private sector. Read more at > CGT

Unions celebrate victory and plan next campaign

Following unprecedented unity among 12 trade union and student organisations, public and private sector trade unions were celebrating the French government’s decision to withdraw the CPE law that would have undermined the employment rights of young workers. Unions are now arguing that this unity has to built on to fight off the next threat - the merger of the Suez private utility company with the state-owned GDF gas company. Read more at > CGT

Unions and student organisations continue to build protests

The CPE law, which makes it possible for employers to sack young workers in their first two years of employment for no reason, has united the trade union federations and student movement. Another national day of demonstrations and strike action is planned for 4 April following the most demonstrations 28 March. The union and student organisations are calling on President Jacques Chirac to use his power to withdraw the CPE. Read the joint union communique at > CGT

One-day strike in protest at GDF privatisation

Energy sector unions FNME-CGT, FNEM-FO and CFE-CGC have called a 24-hour strike for 22nd-23rd March in protest at the government’s proposal to privatise the GDF nationalised gas company by allowing it to merge with the private sector utility Suez. The unions are warning that if the merger goes ahead it will have serious implications for jobs and collective agreements right across the energy sector. They also point out that it was less than two years ago that the government made a commitment to retain 70% ownership of both GDF and EDF, the electricity company. Read the joint union statement at >CGT

Unions back demonstrations against new dismissal law

Public sector unions joined nationwide protests on 16th March against new legislation which undermines the rights of young workers. The CPE law creates new employment contracts for young workers which gives employers much greater freedom to dismiss them during their first two years of employment. Unions estimate that over 500,000 people took to the streets on 16 March and further demonstrations were planned for 18 March. Read more at > FO And at > CGT

Action against weaker employment laws and for better pay

French public service unions are supporting the national action on 7 March in protest at new legislation which weakens the employment rights of young workers. The unions argue this is not the way to tackle unemployment and are calling for national negotiations on pay, jobs and growth to deal with the issue. Public service unions will also be using the day of action to highlight their continuing campaign for collective bargaining and higher pay. Read more at > CGT And at > FO

GDF-Suez merger threat to jobs

The proposed merger between GDF the publicly-owned gas company and the Suez private utility company has been attacked by unions. They are not only concerned about the threat to jobs but what the merger implies for the future of French and European energy policy and the future status of the electricity company EDF. The FNEM-FO federation called on its members to strike on 7 March and join the demonstrations on 7 March in protest at the new employment laws and make them also a protest against the Suez-GDF merger. Read more at > CGT And at > FO

Mobilising in March

The local and regional public service federation of the CGT is calling on members to mobilise for 7 March in the next stage of union campaigning over pay and employment rights. As well as the continuing demand for increases to public sector pay the demonstration will also focus on the new CPE law which makes it easier for employers to dismiss young workers. Read more at > CGT

Solid support for day of action

With over 100,000 demonstrators and as many as one million strikers, unions were pleased at the support given for the day of action of public service pay on 2nd February. With inflation forecast as 1.8% for 2006, public service unions are angry at the government’s offer of a 0.5% pay increase and a refusal to negotiate a reform of the pay structure. Read more at >CGT Read more at >FO

Pay deal in energy sector

Unions in the gas and electricity industries have agreed increases on pay rates for 2006 and 2007. An increase of 1.8% will be implemented in three stages in 2006 - 0.6% on 1st February, 0.8% on 1st April and 0.4% on 1st July. The 1.5% increase for 2007 will be implemented in two stages - 0.9% on 1st January and 0.6% on 1st April. There is a reopening clause in the agreement in case inflation increases above expected levels. Read more at >FNME-CGT And at >FNEM-FO

Unions call day of action

Unions in the public sector have called a day of action - strikes and demonstrations - on 2 February in protest at the public services minister’s refusal to get involved in proper negotiations over pay. With inflation expected to reach 1.8% this year, the government has so far offered only a 0.5% pay increase from 1 July. It refuses to acknowledge the fall in purchasing power of public service workers since 1999 and also refuses to discuss a reform of the public sector pay scale. Read more at > CGT And at > FO And at > CFDT

Long wait for negotiations to begin

Unions in the public sector were frustrated by the government’s refusal to begin negotiations over pay at the end of last year and are concerned about what this means for any meaningful talks this month. They are still looking for the government to ensure protection of purchasing power for the current year, compensation for loss of purchasing power since 2000 and a revision of the salary scale. Read the joint communications from all the unions at > CGT

Unions call for minister to respond

Increasingly frustrated by the failure of the government to negotiate over pay, six union federations in the public sector have sent a joint letter to the public service minister demanding he puts forward a proposal on pay and that negotiations should start in earnest by 15 December. Read more at > FO And at > CGT

EDF announces up to 7,000 job cuts

The energy company EDF has announced that it is implementing a policy of not filling all new vacancies when workers retire or leave the company. Only one job in three (or four depending on the job) will be filled over the next two years. The unions believe this is an early reflection of the company’s new, more profit-oriented approach following its switch from being a nationalised company to a share-based, although still majority state-owned organisation. Read more at > FNME-CGT And at > FNEM-FO

No change from minister

French unions continue to be frustrated by the attitude of the public services minister Christian Jacob. The latest meeting with the minister on 9 November produced nothing concrete but just the framework for further discussions in December. They accuse the minister of simply using delaying tactics rather than agreeing to proper negotiations over public sector pay. Read more at > CGT

Prime minister fails to respond to public service unions

Prime minister Dominique de Villepin chose to announce further plans for privatisation and the creation of a “modern” state rather than respond to union demands for a proper social dialogue. Privatisation of EDF, the motorways and Paris airport are all on the agenda but not negotiations with the unions. Following the national demonstration on 4 October the CGT federation is now calling for two days of action on 9 and 10 November. This will again involve both private and public sectors with demands for pay increases and pay negotiations involving public service unions. Read more at > FO And at > CFDT And at > CGT

Unions unimpressed by government response to national day of action

Unions were very happy with the turnout for the national day of action on 4 October. Private and public sector workers came out in protest at government policies and in support of pay increases. Public sector unions are unimpressed by the government’s response and failure to commit clearly to proper negotiations on pay. Read more at > CGT Read more at > FO Read more at > CFDT

No progress with public services minister

The CGT federation met with public services minister, Christian Jacob, on 21 September. However, he only wanted to discuss talks about the technical aspects of negotiations on social and statutory rights and salaries with a view to proper multilateral meetings from the middle of November. The CGT found this unacceptable and all the more urgent that the 4 October demonstrations were widely supported. Read more at > CGT

Unions call for strike and day of action on 4 October

All seven of the union federations that organise workers in the public services are calling on their members to join a day of action of strikes and demonstrations on 4 October. They will be protesting in defence of public services, the rights of public service workers and calling for increases in pay and pensions to compensate for the loss of purchasing power in recent years. Read more at > CGT And at > FO

Unions express their opposition to proposed decentralisation process

Public service unions in France continue to express their reservations about the process of decentralisation which will see 135,000 civil servants currently employed centrally transferred to the responsibility of local and regional government. Local authorities too are worried about the impact of the transfer and the extent to which adequate levels of financing will be provided for the municipalities. Read more at > UGFF-CGT

Continued opposition to decentralisation

Public service unions are still concerned about the implications of a major decentralisation of staff. Thousands of civil servants currently directly employed by the public works ministry are set to be transferred to regional and local authority employment. Unions are worried about the failure to guarantee pay rates, career development and civil service status. A national demonstration has been organised for 7 September. Read more at > FO

EU laws applied in civil service

Legislation was passed in July applying a number of European directive to the French civil service. While the legislation attempts to regulate precarious employment and in particular the use of fixed-term contracts, unions are not convinced this will resolve the problem. Read more at > EIRO

FRANCE - action by energy and public service workers

There were demonstrations and action around the country on 20 and 21 June as first energy workers took action in protest at the planned privatisation of EDF and GDF and then public sector workers joined with their private sector colleagues in a joint protest over a range of issues including the failure to make progress in pay negotiations.

Treasury and tax ministry employees strike over reorganisation

Workers in the Treasury and Tax administration in France took strike action on 7 July in protest at the reorganisation of their departments. The government claims that reorganisation is aimed at providing an improved service but unions argue that the plans are being carried in order to cut jobs. Read more at > FO