Unions take action to defend employment conditions

Firefighters, members of the STAL and STML trade unions, took strike action from 18 December to 2 January in protest at government plans to change the statutes covering their pay, retirement and other conditions. The unions not only reject the proposed changes but are angry that the government aimed to implement them without any consultation or negotiation with the unions. The unions have made a series of demands related to protecting basic pay and ensuring appropriate payments for on-call and overtime work as well as allowances for dangerous and arduous conditions. They are also seeking

Workers at the Vierzon public hospital in central France are involved in strike action to defend services and jobs. The trade unions involved - CGT, CFDT, FO and SUD - have expressed their concern about plans to close surgical, paediatric and maternity services at the hospital leaving local people with long journeys to the nearest facilities. They have called for all services to be maintained, for investment in new facilities, action to tackle the hospital's debt and a stop to any job cuts. Along with strike action the unions organised a human chain around the hospital and have been