France
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)
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)
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->http