France
The four trade unions - CFDT, CGT, CFE-CGC et FO - have taken joint action in protest at major restructuring plans put forward by the Veolia energy and water multinational. The unions highlight the fact that the company has seen profits increase and has maintained its dividends to shareholders while planning job cuts and relocations that could effect over 2000 employees.
Read joint union statement at > CGT (FR)
And EPSU message of support at > EPSU (EN/FR)
The pay freeze and job cuts in the public sector have prompted action by some unions in February with the CGT taking strike action on the 5th and FO organising a week of action 3-10 February with a national demonstration on the 7th. Their principal demands focus on unfreezing pay, stopping the job cuts but there are also broader demands about the minimum wage and a fairer tax system. Fairness is also one of the factors behind the unions' joint call for strike action across the energy, water and waste company Veolia which employs 50000 workers in France. The CFDT, CFC, CFT and FO are calling
Unions at the Veolia Eau water company are opposed to proposals from the company for a plan to cut 1500 jobs on the basis of voluntary redundancies or redeployments. They are also unhappy about company plans to change working time arrangements and cut holiday entitlement. The unions argue that the cuts will have an impact on services and workloads and are simply a way of boosting productivity to keep shareholders happy. [Read more at > Humanite news website (FR)->http://www.humanite.fr/social-eco/veolia-eau-veut-supprimer-1500-emplois-en-france-517935] [And at > CGT (FR)->http://www