France
Background information on industrial relations in France
- 28 Dec 1998
France: French and German unions respond to Hoechst/Rhône-Poulenc merger<#PDF_LINK>In December 1998, the German Hoechst and the French Rhône-Poulenc began a merger process which should lead to the creation of the world's second-largest pharmaceuticals group, under the banner of "Aventis". Both French and German trade unions have expressed their concerns about the possibility of job losses in both companies, and unions from the two countries took the innovative step of issuing a joint declaration to all employees concerned.
- 28 Dec 1998
France: Jospin government takes first step towards introducing a form of funded pension<#PDF_LINK>After 10 years of reports commissioned by successive administrations, the current French government, led by Lionel Jospin, has taken the first steps towards a significant change in the way pensions are funded by introducing a form of funded pension. In late November 1998, the government succeeded in passing the 1999 social security finance bill, providing for the creation of a reserve fund to strengthen the pay-as-you-go basic pension scheme for future retirees. This measure will be followed by a bill to overhaul the pension system, to be introduced in the spring of 1999, following consultation with the social partners.
- 28 Dec 1998
France: Some minimum social benefits given pre-Christmas boost<#PDF_LINK>In December 1998, responding to the actions carried out by groups representing unemployed people, Prime Minister Lionel Jospin announced an increase in certain minimum social benefits. This 3% rise was backdated to 1 January 1998, making it, in the words of the Prime Minister, into "a kind of bonus".
- 28 Dec 1998
France: Committee created for social dialogue on European and international issues<#PDF_LINK>The French government has set up a Committee for Social Dialogue on European and International Issues, with the particular aim of involving the social partners more closely in French proposals on European matters. An initial extraordinary meeting of the committee - at which the Prime Minister was present - was held in December 1998.
- 28 Dec 1998
France: 1998 Annual Review for France<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 1998's main developments in industrial relations in France
- 28 Nov 1998
France: New features emerging in French trade unionism?<#PDF_LINK>Late 1998 has seen a number of notable developments in France's notoriously fragmented trade union movement. These include: joint debates between the CFDT and the CGT; a public willingness on the part of the CGT to move from a "trade unionism of protest to a trade unionism of proposals"; a partnership contract between the CFDT and the UNSA; and an "overhaul" of the CFE-CGC.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Change in the employers' camp - CNPF becomes MEDEF<#PDF_LINK>The National Council of French Employers (CNPF) decided on a new policy direction at its national general assembly in October 1998. It did this firstly by changing its name to the Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) and secondly by setting out new demands for a change in society, based on greater flexibility in employment legislation and a reform of the state.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Programme to tackle racial discrimination proposed<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, France's Minister for Employment and Solidarity, Martine Aubry, presented a programme to address racial discrimination and proposed the setting up of an observatory on the issue.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Sectoral agreement on mandating employees to negotiate<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, employers and trade unions in France's supermarket and hypermarket food retailing sector reached agreement on the "mandating" procedure. This enables companies with no union representatives to negotiate agreements with employees mandated for this purpose.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Early retirement for jobs scheme (ARPE) under renegotiation<#PDF_LINK>In late 1998, France's social partners have been renegotiating the ARPE scheme, under which employees take early retirement in exchange for the recruitment of new employees. Employers have agreed to negotiate on condition that the government does not interfere in the funding of the scheme.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Reform of redundancy law deferred<#PDF_LINK>It was announced in November 1998 that the French government does not intend for the time being to undertake the statutory reform of redundancy law that Prime Minister Lionel Jospin promised when he came in June 1997. The government has opted instead further to tighten current preventive measures concerning redundancy programmes.
- 28 Nov 1998
France: Xerox agrees redundancy programme and early retirement at 52<#PDF_LINK>In an attempt to deal with the restructuring of its divisions and the relocation of part of its activities to Ireland, Xerox's French subsidiary has decided to cut its workforce. In October 1998, the company signed two agreements with trade unions, one of which pertains to an early retirement programme funded without government aid.
- 28 Oct 1998
France: Redundancy programme agreed at Perrier<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, after a year of disputes and discussion, management and trade unions at Perrier in France - part of the Nestlé group - reached agreement on a redundancy programme limiting the number of projected job losses.
- 28 Oct 1998
France: Metalworking working time agreement will not be extended<#PDF_LINK>In October 1998, France's Minister of Employment and Solidarity indicated that she was refusing to extend to the whole sector a controversial agreement on the implementation of the 35-hour working week in the metalworking industry.
- 28 Oct 1998
France: Unions and employers in the textile industry agree on the 35-hour week<#PDF_LINK>On 6 November 1998, all the trade unions in France's textiles industry were due to sign an agreement on the 35-hour working week, which was negotiated with UIT, the sector's employers' organisation.
- 28 Oct 1998
France: Levi Strauss France trade unions join in European action<#PDF_LINK>The September 1998 announcement by the Levi Strauss group that it planned to close three plants in Belgium and one in France prompted reaction from European trade unions and protest by employees at the La Bassée factory in France. The French Minister for Employment and Solidarity stated that she rejected any talk of closure of La Bassée before every possible avenue to keep the plant open had been explored.
- 28 Oct 1998
France: Working group reports on industrial relations implications of transition from franc to euro<#PDF_LINK>September 1998 saw the publication of a report on the impact of the introduction of the euro single currency on various aspects of industrial relations and other employment matters in France. The study, drawn up by a working group of employers, trade unions, social security organisations and the government, examines the transition period from 1999-2000, as well as the effect of the single currency on collective agreements and the functioning of works councils.
- 28 Oct 1998
France: EDF-GDF agreement on part-time work annulled by the courts<#PDF_LINK>In September 1998, the Paris Court of Appeal annulled a collective agreement signed at the electricity and gas utilities, EDF-GDF in January 1997. This agreement, whose provisions included the widespread introduction of a 32-hour part-time working week in order to promote employment, had been opposed by two non-signatory unions, CGT and CGT-FO. The Court's ruling may have implications beyond the nationalised industries.
- 28 Sep 1998
France: Borders blockaded on day of cross-border industrial action in road transport<#PDF_LINK>An international day of action by lorry drivers on 8 September 1998 was relatively well supported in Europe, especially in France. It was designed to increase awareness among drivers and the general public about the issue of driving time - especially relevant in the EU, where regulations on this subject are currently under discussion. The action was thus also aimed at European employers, coming a few days before the planned final round of negotiations on EU rules governing lorry drivers' working time.
- 28 Sep 1998
France: Debate on lowering social security contributions is relaunched<#PDF_LINK>July 1998 saw the submission to the French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, of an expert report reviewing employers' social security contributions. The report does not support changing the base for calculating social security contributions, recommending that they be entirely pay-based. These proposals gained the approval of employers' organisations but were criticised by trade unions. The Minister for Employment and Solidarity is to consult with the social partners on this issue.
- 28 Sep 1998
France: 35-hour week agreement signed in the sugar industry<#PDF_LINK>The employers' organisation for the French sugar industry and three trade unions - CFDT, CFTC and CFE-CGC - signed an agreement on the 35-hour working week on 18 August 1998. The CGT and CGT-FO unions did not sign the deal. Martine Aubry, Minister for Employment and Solidarity, believes that, unlike the text signed in metalworking in July, this agreement is a "good" one.
- 28 Sep 1998
France: 1996 works council election results published<#PDF_LINK>In autumn 1998, the French Ministry for Employment published the results of the two-yearly works council elections that took place in 1996. Turn-out among employees was slightly down on the 1994 elections, while medium-term trends in support for the candidates of the various trade unions were maintained.
- 28 Aug 1998
France: Agreement in metalworking: for or against the 35-hour working week?<#PDF_LINK>In July 1998, employers and three trade unions in France's metalworking sector signed an agreement on the implementation of the new law on the 35-hour working week. This agreement - which was not signed by CGT and CFDT, the strongest unions in the industry - provides for increases in permissible overtime, greater use of annualised hours, and more working time flexibility. The Government has downplayed the importance of the agreement, and plans to give greater importance to company than to sectoral agreements in the evaluation exercise which will be used as a basis for a second law on working time, in 1999.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: Family allowance benefits for all reinstated<#PDF_LINK>The French Government has recently reviewed its position regarding the means-testing of eligibility for family allowance benefits. In June 1998, it decided to reverse the measures in this area it had adopted a year previously and to reduce the income tax allowance allocated to families - much to the satisfaction of trade unions.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: Collective bargaining in 1997 examined<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, France's tripartite National Commission for Collective Bargaining reviewed the Ministry for Employment and Solidarity's report on the state of collective bargaining during 1997. The report highlights stability in intersectoral bargaining, a noticeable loss of impetus in sectoral bargaining and a strong increase in company-level bargaining (up 27%), mainly due to the implementation of the Robien law on working time.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: Debate over mandating employees to conclude collective agreements<#PDF_LINK>The May 1998 legislation introducing the statutory 35-hour working week in France has given a new emphasis to the "mandating" procedure in collective bargaining. This mechanism, which allows a trade union to appoint an employee to negotiate and sign agreements in companies with no union delegates, aims to meet the concerns of both unions and employers, by compensating for the weak and dispersed union representation within companies. While the extent of company bargaining with these mandated employees is still limited, the new working time law may well provide a boost, all the more so as most unions have made mandating part of their campaign to cut working hours.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: 3,550 job losses in state-run arms company<#PDF_LINK>On 10 July 1998, the management of the French publicly-owned arms manufacturing group, GIAT Industries, officially announced a redundancy programme for 1999-2002 comprising 3,550 job losses and the closure of three factories. Trade unions unanimously rejected this plan at a meeting of the central works council.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: Government and unions sign agreement on primary school teacher careers<#PDF_LINK>An agreement on the status of primary school teachers in France was signed on 10 July 1998 by ministers and two trade unions. The deal seeks to end a long-running dispute about these teachers' career development.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: GAN acquired by Groupama<#PDF_LINK>In July 1998, the French Government announced that the publicly-owned GAN insurance group is to be sold off to the mutual insurance concern, Groupama. The trade unions, for the most part, were satisfied with the decision in favour of what they saw as the "best bidder" in social and employment terms.
- 28 Jul 1998
France: Strike hits Disneyland Paris<#PDF_LINK>Disneyland Paris experienced its longest strike in June-July 1998. At the heart of the conflict were pay claims and especially recognition of "performing artist" status for the Mickey Mouses, Goofies and Snow Whites who parade daily in the park.
- 28 Jun 1998
France: 35-hour working week law adopted<#PDF_LINK>France's new working time law was passed by Parliament in May 1998, and validated by the Constitutional Council in June. It sets the length of the statutory working week at 35 hours as of 1 January 2000 in companies employing more than 20 people, and from 1 January 2002 for smaller firms. Some provisions come into effect immediately after the law's promulgation. This new legislation has brought in radical modifications to French employment law, and both employers and trade unions are already engaged in its implementation.
- 28 Jun 1998
France: Air France pilots strike<#PDF_LINK>On Wednesday 10 June 1998, a few hours before the kick-off of the World Cup finals, Air France management and its striking pilots reached agreement, ending industrial action which had begun on 1 June.
- 28 Jun 1998
France: Eurocopter lands on a 35-hour week<#PDF_LINK>While France's CNPF employers' confederation has been vociferously opposing the law - adopted in May 1998 - implementing the 35-hour working week in 2000, large companies have been negotiating agreements trading off "working time" for "flexibility". These agreements will be implemented prior to the legislation coming into force, in return for substantial benefits for the employers. Eurocopter France is a "pioneer" in the metalworking industry. Could the agreement it signed with four unions on 31 March 1998 set a standard?
- 28 Jun 1998
France: Law against exclusion progresses<#PDF_LINK>A framework bill on fighting all forms of social exclusion - which includes provisions on job creation - was passed by France's National Assembly in May 1998, with Senate approval planned for July. This article outlines the main changes to the draft legislation since it was passed at cabinet level in March 1998.
- 28 Jun 1998
France: State debt to supplementary pension agencies under examination<#PDF_LINK>In June 1998, France's Minister for Employment and Solidarity, Martine Aubry requested an evaluation of the amount of money owed by the state to supplementary pension agencies.
- 28 Jun 1998
France: AGF, Allianz and Athéna set up combined dialogue structure<#PDF_LINK>In May 1998, the French managements of AGF, Allianz and Athéna agreed with trade unions to set up a social dialogue group. The goal of this extra-statutory employee representative institution is to prepare the way for the merger of these three insurance companies, and it will not replace existing official representative structures.
- 28 Jun 1998
France: Court rules on works council consultation<#PDF_LINK>In May 1998, France's supreme court of appeal confirmed that works councils must be consulted before any modification of working or employment conditions, even when these are the result of a company agreement.
- 28 May 1998
France: French National Action Plan on employment adopted<#PDF_LINK>TheFrench Action Plan for Employment, 1998was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 15 April 1998 in response to the EU Employment Guidelines, and was submitted on the very same day to the European Commission. Trade unions and employers, which had been consulted only rather belatedly on the content of the document, expressed their desire to add - if possible before the June Cardiff European Council meeting - several contributions of their own.
- 28 May 1998
France: Reforms proposed for higher education<#PDF_LINK>A May 1998 report drawn up on the orders of the Minister for National Education proposes a shake-up in the organisation of higher education in France. Reaction from the trade unions is divided.
- 28 May 1998
France: Industrial action hits SNCF<#PDF_LINK>May 1998 saw industrial action on France's railways, as workers demanded job creation and pay increases, and called for more investment and changes to the running of the SNCF network.
- 28 May 1998
France: No role for unemployed associations in management of unemployment insurance<#PDF_LINK>Following numerous debates, France's National Assembly made the decision in April 1998 to allow unemployed associations to take part in new local liaison committees attached to the agencies for training and placement of unemployed people. However, the Assembly did not approve an amendment which provided for representation of unemployed people within the UNEDIC unemployment insurance fund.
- 28 Apr 1998
France: Works council survey reveals major differences in practice<#PDF_LINK>An exhaustive survey of works councils in France carried out by the IRES research institute and the Ministry for Employment, and published in early 1998, highlights the discrepancies that exist between the uniform legislation in this area and its varying implementation. Great variations arise, depending on when the works council was first set up in a particular company and on whether or not the elected employee representatives are affiliated to a trade union.
- 28 Apr 1998
France: New proposals on the prevention and resolution of industrial disputes<#PDF_LINK>In mid-February 1998, France's Economic and Social Council adopted an opinion on the prevention and resolution of industrial disputes. The report emphasises the weakness of social dialogue in France, and concludes that the prevention and solution of disputes should preferably be brought about by the parties concerned, before the state, the legal system or mediators become involved.
- 28 Apr 1998
France: Working time bill soon to become law<#PDF_LINK>Following a second reading in France's National Assembly on 31 March, the law introducing a statutory working week of 35 hours should become law around the middle of May 1998. The discussion in the National Assembly gave rise to a detailed debate on the concept of actual work (travail effectif).
- 28 Apr 1998
France: CIC to be sold to mutual benefit banking group<#PDF_LINK>In April 1998, the French Government announced its decision to sell the CIC banking group to the Crédit Mutuel. Trade unions have welcomed this decision, while the leaders of the banking organisations not selected for the purchase have complained to the European Commission.
- 28 Apr 1998
France: Department store sectoral collective agreement is terminated<#PDF_LINK>City-centre department stores have followed the banking sector in terminating their sectoral collective agreement in a dispute over the French Government's proposals on reducing working hours. Trade unions staged demonstrations in protest in April 1998.
- 28 Apr 1998
France: National Front unions ruled unlawful<#PDF_LINK>France's Supreme Court of Appeal ruled in April 1998 that trade unions created by the National Front are unlawful. This decision could mean that members of the Front-linked CFNT elected in industrial tribunal elections in December 1997 will be declared ineligible.
- 28 Mar 1998
France: Government presents plan to prevent and combat social exclusion<#PDF_LINK>In March 1998, Martine Aubry, France's Minister for Employment and Solidarity presented a three-year, FRF 50 billion plan to prevent and combat social exclusion. The measures include the introduction of a universal healthcare coverage scheme, which will require consultation of the social partners. The plan has met with a mixed reaction from trade unions and other interested parties.
- 28 Mar 1998
France: After Vilvoorde: Renault EWC agreement amended<#PDF_LINK>In March 1998, an amendment to the Renault European Works Council agreement, taking account of court rulings following the closure of Renault's Vilvoorde plant in Belgium, was signed by management and French, Belgian and Spanish unions.
- 28 Mar 1998
France: Breakdown of sectoral negotiations on minimum pay rates<#PDF_LINK>According to France's Minister of Labour, the conflict over the Government's plans to introduce a 35-hour working week led to a deadlock in 1997's sector-level negotiations on minimum pay rates.
- 28 Mar 1998
France: 35-hour week law enters the home straight<#PDF_LINK>In March 1998, the bill to reduce the statutory working week from 39 to 35 hours is undergoing its second reading in France's National Assembly. The CNPF employers' organisation is demanding that its implementation be delayed by two years.
- 28 Feb 1998
France: Pay agreement signed in civil service<#PDF_LINK>On 10 February 1998, the French Government and five trade unions signed a pay agreement for the civil service providing for annual increases of 1.3% for the period 1998-9. In the opinion of those who signed the agreement, it assures the purchasing power of civil servants' pay power, a fact disputed by the two unions that refused to sign. This is the civil service's first pay agreement since 1993 and follows a pay freeze in 1996 and a non-negotiated 1% rise in 1997.
- 28 Feb 1998
France: Sectoral agreement terminated by banking employers<#PDF_LINK>On 3 February 1998, France's AFB banking employers' organisation gave notice of termination of the collective agreement which has regulated the banking sector since 1947. Negotiations on updating this agreement have been unsuccessful, and representatives of employers and staff now have until 1 January 2000 to agree a new package.
- 28 Feb 1998
France: Demonstrations and industrial action continue in education sector<#PDF_LINK>Over early 1998, the French Minister of Education, Claude Allègre, has been faced with protests from teachers who are opposed to his proposed reforms. The teachers' many demands indicate a deep underlying problem, and negotiations have been limited or even deadlocked.
- 28 Feb 1998
France: Government responds to action by unemployed groups<#PDF_LINK>Following the recent demonstrations by unemployed groups, the French Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, announced in February 1998 the main measures that the Government will be implementing to assist those most affected by unemployment.
- 28 Jan 1998
France: Widespread protests by unemployed people: towards a new form of social movement?<#PDF_LINK>In December 1997 and January 1998, France has seen a growing wave of protests by unemployed people, which has grown from specific local actions into a nationwide movement. The demands of the protesters have challenged both the Government and the trade unions which co-manage the unemployment insurance fund, and raised basic questions about the collective representation of unemployed people and the financial support for those unemployed long-term.
- 28 Jan 1998
France: Strikes in France in 1996: return to normal levels?<#PDF_LINK>The number of working days lost through strikes in France in 1996 decreased sharply from the number recorded in 1995, according to figures published in late 1997. Rates are now back to levels registered in the early 1990s.
- 28 Jan 1998
France: Worker buyout at shoe factory<#PDF_LINK>A January 1998 ruling by the Commercial Court in Paris has enabled some of the former workers of a Bally shoe factory to take it over and restart production.
- 28 Jan 1998
France: Civil service negotiations deadlocked<#PDF_LINK>Negotiations in the French civil service reached deadlock in January 1998 over pay increases and working time reductions.