France
Background information on industrial relations in France
- 08 Dec 2004
France: Controversy over Perrier redundancy plan<#PDF_LINK>In 2003, the Perrier mineral-water company (part of the Nestlé group) announced 350 job losses in France through early retirement (the fourth round of redundancies in recent years) and signed an agreement on the issue with two minority trade unions. The majority union at the company, CGT, decided to invoke a new right to challenge collective agreements signed by unions without majority support, introduced by legislation in 2004, hoping to have the early-retirement agreement cancelled. However, external and internal pressures resulted in CGT withdrawing its challenge in September 2004. As a result, the redundancy plan can go ahead but the future of Perrier remains uncertain.
- 07 Dec 2004
France: Agreement on dispute prevention signed at SNCF<#PDF_LINK>In October 2004, six of the eight trade unions represented at French National Railways (SNCF) signed an agreement designed to prevent industrial disputes at the state-run company. The agreement came at a time when the free market-oriented wing of the ruling conservative coalition was preparing to table legislation requiring minimum service during public transport strikes.
- 30 Nov 2004
France: Report on obstacles to growth calls for industrial relations changes<#PDF_LINK>A report commissioned by the Minister for the Economy and published in October 2004 identifies obstacles to economic growth in France and makes recommendations on how they can be overcome. The proposals include longer life-time working hours and changes to the law on employee representation, employment contracts, the minimum wage and redundancies.
- 30 Nov 2004
France: Schools reform in prospect<#PDF_LINK>In October 2004, after a major public consultation exercise, a report on reform of France's state schools system was presented to the Minister of National Education. Trade unions gave a mixed response to the proposals, which include a redefinition of the teaching profession and of teachers’ workload. Negotiations over legislative changes now appear likely.
- 09 Nov 2004
France: EDF pension scheme incorporated into general system<#PDF_LINK>The legal status of France's state-owned electricity and gas companies, EDF and GDF, was amended in August 2004, allowing some of their capital to be floated on the stock market. Their special pension schemes are to be incorporated into the general system, and in October an agreement was reached on the transfer of the EDF scheme.
- 09 Nov 2004
France: Reform of survivors' pensions is suspended<#PDF_LINK>As part of France's recent pensions reform, a decree tightening the eligibility rules for survivors' pensions was published in August 2004. The trade unions were unanimous in their opposition to this change, and in September the government suspended its application.
- 01 Nov 2004
France: New sickness insurance legislation adopted<#PDF_LINK>A new law overhauling France's jointly-managed sickness insurance system was adopted in August 2004, though many details of its implementation remain to be clarified. How effective the legislation will be is still a subject of much debate. The 2005 budget estimates published in September indicate that, despite the reform, the financial difficulties facing the sickness insurance system remain. Trade unions are critical of the new measures.
- 01 Nov 2004
France: Decentralisation has implications for state employees<#PDF_LINK>Legislation devolving new responsibilities to France's regions and départements came into force in August 2004. One result is the transfer of some 130,000 state employees to lower levels of government. These include 90,000 non-teaching staff in the national education system, and their transfer is a source of concern for trade unions and local authorities alike. Devolved staff will be able to retain their current career paths, compensation schemes, working time arrangements and benefit packages.
- 06 Oct 2004
France: Strike follows murder of two junior labour inspectors<#PDF_LINK>In response to a strike call from their trade unions, officers at the French Labour Inspectorate came out on strike on 16 September 2004 in protest at the murder of two of their colleagues by a farmer. Against a backdrop of perceived deregulation of labour legislation, the strikers demanded condemnation of the murders and recognition of the importance of the job that inspectors do.
- 06 Oct 2004
France: Legislation planned after restructuring talks fail<#PDF_LINK>Intersectoral negotiations between the French social partners on social measures to accompany company restructuring and redundancies failed in September 2004, when the MEDEF employers' confederation walked out. The government is now planning legislation in this area.
- 05 Oct 2004
France: Corsican Workers' Union organises strike at SNCM<#PDF_LINK>In September 2004, after a three-week strike, the Corsican Workers' Union (STC) obtained a commitment from the state-owned maritime transport firm, SNCM, that it will recruit more Corsican residents. The other trade unions at SNCM and the national union confederations have strongly criticised this deal.
- 27 Sep 2004
France: Social cohesion plan presented<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the French government presented a social cohesion plan. The aim is to take an integrated approach to social exclusion, seeking simultaneously to combat problems in employment, housing and society more widely. Trade unions and employers’ associations have been consulted on the issue and have expressed a range of opinions on the plan.
- 27 Sep 2004
France: Debate over minimum service during public transport strikes<#PDF_LINK>A long-running debate in France about whether a minimum level of service should be required during public transport strikes was reignited in July 2004 by the publication of a government-commissioned report supporting such a measure. The social partners, which are deeply divided on the matter, have been consulted about minimum service provision by the government.
- 15 Sep 2004
France: Thematic feature - redundancies and redundancy costs<#PDF_LINK>This article examines the procedures and costs involved in collective redundancies in France, as well as current trends and debate in this area, as at November 2003.
- 08 Sep 2004
France: Thematic feature - industrial relations and undeclared work<#PDF_LINK>This article gives a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of undeclared work in France, as of June 2004. It looks at: the nature and extent of undeclared work; the regulatory framework; the role, activities and views of the social partners; and partnerships between social partners and public authorities to tackle undeclared work.
- 07 Sep 2004
France: Vivendi Universal creates jobs in exchange for new tax status<#PDF_LINK>In 2004, Vivendi Universal, the French-based media and communications group, has been granted a more advantageous tax status by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. In exchange, the company has committed itself to creating over 2,000 jobs in some of the areas hardest hit by unemployment in France.
- 07 Sep 2004
France: Controversial decree completes reform of occupational health system<#PDF_LINK>A decree published in France in July 2004 makes major changes to the monitoring of employees’ health at work and the practice of occupational medicine, completing a series of reforms introduced in this area in recent years. These latest amendments are a source of significant dispute among the government, social partners and occupational health professionals.
- 26 Aug 2004
France: Report examines collective bargaining in 2003<#PDF_LINK>The Ministry of Labour's report on collective bargaining in France in 2003, published in June 2004, finds that the rising volume of intersectoral bargaining observed in the previous year continued. However, the amount of sector-level bargaining, and particularly company-level bargaining, fell.
- 26 Aug 2004
France: Pressure mounts on 35-hour week<#PDF_LINK>During summer 2004, criticism of the statutory 35-hour working week has been mounting in France's governing coalition and in employers’ circles, raising fears among trade unions.
- 26 Aug 2004
France: Home-Help Employers’ Federation established<#PDF_LINK>A Home-Help Employers’ Federation (USB-Domicile) was established in France in June 2004, bringing together six employers’ organisations, including the two largest. The home-help sector has around 220,000 workers. It is currently covered by four separate collective agreements, and one of the aims of the new federation is to promote a single industry-wide agreement.
- 11 Aug 2004
France: Controversial deal to save jobs at Bosch plant<#PDF_LINK>In July 2004, workers at the Bosch car components plant at Vénissieux in France ratified an agreement reached between management and the local branches of the CFDT and CFE-CGC trade unions. The deal aims to safeguard investment and jobs at the plant, in return for concessions on pay and working time. It has proved controversial, especially in trade union circles, and highlighted debates about France's 35-hour week legislation.
- 11 Aug 2004
France: SMIC minimum wage increased<#PDF_LINK>On 1 July 2004, France's SMIC national minimum wage was raised by between 2.1% and 5.8%. Although highlighted by the government and media, the 5.8% increase applies to only a minority of SMIC recipients (those still working a 39-hour week), and most recipients will see a lower rise, of no more than inflation in some cases.
- 30 Jul 2004
France: Public researchers protest against cutbacks<#PDF_LINK>During the first half of 2004, French public scientific researchers mounted a campaign to protect funding and jobs in their sector. The protests received a high level of media coverage and were though to have contributed partially to the defeat of the governing conservative majority at the regional elections in March. The researchers were finally successful in having the measures they disliked withdrawn and in obtaining a commitment from the government over the drafting of legislation on future policy and planning for the public research sector.
- 28 Jul 2004
France: Civil service employment faces change<#PDF_LINK>In 2004, French civil servants are experiencing a pay freeze, while only half of those who retire are being replaced. The industrial relations climate is thus tense, against a background of future uncertainty and change. The civil service's share of public expenditure is being questioned, while a huge wave of retirements among civil servants is due over the next five to 10 years. At the same time, new management methods and performance-related pay systems are being introduced. This article reviews the situation in summer 2004.
- 08 Jul 2004
France: Thematic feature - individual labour/employment disputes and the courts<#PDF_LINK>This article examines how individual labour/employment disputes are handled through the courts in France, as at March 2004.
- 07 Jul 2004
France: Redundancy rules suspended for further six months<#PDF_LINK>In early 2003, the French government suspended until July 2004 new provisions on redundancy procedures introduced by a 2002 social modernisationlaw, and gave the social partners an opportunity to negotiate over company restructuring. In June 2004, with little progress made in these talks, parliament extended the suspension of the relevant provisions until January 2005.
- 29 Jun 2004
France: Protests over plans to change status of EDF and GDF<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the French government submitted a bill to parliament that would alter the legal status of the state-owned electricity and gas companies, EDF and GDF. Trade unions are critical of the proposals, or oppose them, and most are demanding the bill’s withdrawal. The unions organised a series of protest actions during May and June.
- 29 Jun 2004
France: Sickness insurance reform remains controversial<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the French government announced that consultations with the social partners over proposals for a reform of the jointly-managed sickness insurance scheme had been completed. The proposals will now be submitted to parliament in July. The trade unions are all critical of the government's plans, believing that households will bear a disproportionate burden, and a protest demonstration was held on 5 June. However, unity among the unions has broken down, with differing views over the role of sickness insurance.
- 29 Jun 2004
France: Early retirement following the pensions reform<#PDF_LINK>France's 1993 pensions reform law included a number of measures aimed at keeping older people in employment longer, including raising to 65 the age at which an employer can initiate an employee's retirement, and abolishing or restricting many forms of early retirement. In summer 2004, it appears that the law has not yet had a major impact on the retention of older workers. The law allowed exemptions from the ban on employer-instigated retirement before the age of 65 through sectoral collective agreements on the issue, and there has been a spate of such agreements since autumn 2003. Moreover, the methods for early retirement that are still in existence are being used more and more.
- 18 Jun 2004
France: 2003 Annual Review for France<#PDF_LINK>This record reviews 2003's main developments in industrial relations in France.
- 11 Jun 2004
France: Union concerns as Alstom restructuring continues<#PDF_LINK>In June 2004, the management of Alstom, the French engineering group, is putting the finishing touches - with the assistance of the government - to a comprehensive funding plan aimed at getting the company out of the difficult situation it is now experiencing. The European Commission is keeping a close eye on developments to ensure that competition is not undermined. Employees and trade unions alike have voiced concerns as jobs losses mount.
- 11 Jun 2004
France: Strikes held in state education system<#PDF_LINK>Trade unions organising staff in the French state education system called strikes in March and May 2004 in protest at current education policy, the decentralisation of the management of certain categories of staff, and continuing pensions reform. Support for both strikes was limited.
- 10 Jun 2004
France: Legality of agreement on social dialogue in craft industry upheld<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, a French court ruled that a December 2001 agreement on social dialogue in the craft industry was legal. The agreement - which introduced a new levy on employers - was signed by the Craftwork Employers' Association (UPA) and the five representative trade union confederations, but other employers' organisations opposed it and have made several - so far unsuccessful - legal challenges to the accord.
- 07 Jun 2004
France: Content of sickness insurance reform still unclear<#PDF_LINK>In May 2004, the French government has still not announced the content of a long awaited and several times postponed reform of the jointly-managed sickness insurance scheme. The only area in which any details have yet emerged is a new system of governance for the scheme. The social partners have taken varying positions on the reform.
- 03 Jun 2004
France: Developments in employee savings plans<#PDF_LINK>After a rather slow development up to the end of the 1990s, some momentum has been injected into the development of employee savings plans in France on two occasions in recent years. The 2001 Fabius lawaimed primarily to facilitate such schemes through opening up new options, while the 2003 Fillon lawbolstered the existing pension savingsstrand of employee savings plans. Trade unions are split in their views on employee savings schemes, but most of them been attempting jointly to influence the investment of these savings since 2002. This article reviews the situation in 2004.
- 02 Jun 2004
France: Strikes accompany difficult restructuring at La Poste<#PDF_LINK>France's state-run La Poste postal services group has been restructuring its various departments since the second quarter of 2003, with particular emphasis on its banking and mail operations. The process has been accompanied by outbreaks of industrial action, most recently in May 2004, with unions concerned about job losses and deteriorating conditions of employment. At the same time, parliament has been considering changes to La Poste’s legal status in order to bring it into compliance with EU regulations.
- 11 May 2004
France: Court rules in favour of unemployed people hit by benefit cuts<#PDF_LINK>In April 2004, the Marseille local court ruled in favour of 35 unemployed people whose benefits from the UNEDIC insurance scheme had been cut or even stopped at the beginning of 2004 as a result of an agreement signed by the social partners in 2002. Their full entitlement is to be restored after an intervention by the authorities.
- 10 May 2004
France: Action on health at work to be stepped up<#PDF_LINK>With statistics on work-related accidents and occupational illnesses still a cause for concern in France, in April 2004 the Higher Council for the Prevention of Occupational Risks agreed new measures to promote prevention, including a stronger role for collective bargaining. Furthermore, the government has announced that a health at work initiative is to be submitted to the social partners in autumn 2004.
- 01 May 2004
France: Collective bargaining reform law passed<#PDF_LINK>In April 2004, the French parliament passed a law on the reform of collective bargaining. This legislation aims to give a new dynamism to bargaining by introducing two major innovations: collective agreements must essentially have the support of (or not be opposed by) a majority of representative trade unions or of unions representing a majority of employees, in order to be valid; while the previous hierarchyof collectively agreed norms is changed, with the possibility of company-level agreements departing from sector-level agreements.
- 01 May 2004
France: Employees concerned over Sanofi Synthélabo takeover bid for Aventis<#PDF_LINK>During the early months of 2004, talks have been taking place between some of the world's largest pharmaceuticals groups in the wake of a takeover bid by the French-based Sanofi Synthélabo for its rival Aventis. A stock market, media and legal struggle has ensued. No matter what the outcome, the workforces of the companies concerned are very concerned. Successive restructuring and reorganisation initiatives have already hit jobs hard at the two firms.
- 29 Apr 2004
France: Intersectoral agreement signed on gender equality<#PDF_LINK>A national intersectoral agreement on gender equality and gender balance in workforce composition was signed in April 2004 by France's main employers' organisations and trade union confederations. It covers matters such as narrowing the gender pay gap, preventing maternity leave from adversely affecting women's careers and addressing labour market segregation. The accord aims to provide a framework for lower-level bargaining and lays down no concrete targets or sanctions . A number of recent company and sector-level agreements have dealt with similar issues.
- 07 Apr 2004
France: MEDEF makes proposals for modernisation of Labour Code<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, France's MEDEF employers' confederation published 44 proposals for modernising the Labour Code, covering matters such as employment contracts, wages, working time and employee representative bodies. These proposals have been fiercely criticised by the trade unions.
- 07 Apr 2004
France: State found responsible for failure to prevent asbestos-related hazards<#PDF_LINK>In March 2004, France's State Council ruled that the state is liable for the contamination of workers by asbestos, and defined the state’s obligations in the area of occupational hazard prevention.
- 07 Apr 2004
France: Air-traffic controllers strike over reorganisation plan<#PDF_LINK>French air-traffic controllers took strike action in February 2004 in protest at a plan to reorganise Paris area air-traffic control, and at a lack of consultation over the initiative. The action was ended by an agreement to review the situation.
- 30 Mar 2004
France: Disability legislation to be reformed<#PDF_LINK>In January 2004, the French government issued a bill on promoting equality for people with disabilities. The draft legislation, which has already been amended by the Senate, includes provisions to promote the employment of disabled workers in the mainstream labour market, such as a requirement on employers to make reasonable accommodationfor such workers and an obligation for employers and trade unions to hold regular negotiations on relevant issues.
- 30 Mar 2004
France: Reports make proposals on employment law and policy<#PDF_LINK>Late 2003 and early 2004 saw the presentation of three reports on employment law and policy commissioned by the French government. It is expected that some of the reports' proposals will be included in a draft law on mobilisation on employmentthat the government is due to place before parliament in spring 2004.
- 30 Mar 2004
France: Report highlights child poverty<#PDF_LINK>According to a report published in February 2004 by the Council for Employment, Income and Social Cohesion (CERC), some 1 million children in France live below the poverty threshold. The report finds that this phenomenon particularly affects lone-parent and large families, and studies its causes, such as the parents’ weak employment status (low wages, poor conditions or unemployment) and difficulty combining work with childcare. To break away from the poverty cycle, CERC suggests moving towards a more redistributive system of social transfers.
- 11 Mar 2004
France: Strike at Radio France<#PDF_LINK>During January and February 2004, industrial action by Radio France journalists disrupted programmes at the public broadcaster’s various stations for several weeks. Management and trade unions were finally able to reach a wage agreement.
- 11 Mar 2004
France: CGT-FO holds congress<#PDF_LINK>In February 2004, France's CGT-FO trade union confederation held its 20th congress. Marc Blondel, the general secretary since 1989, retired and Jean-Claude Mailly was elected to succeed him.
- 09 Mar 2004
France: Single Equality Authority to be established<#PDF_LINK>In February 2004, the French government announced that it is preparing to establish a single Equality Authority to combat discrimination in all areas and champion equality. The creation of such a body was proposed in a recent report by the State Ombudsman.
- 01 Mar 2004
France: Council issues report on future of sickness insurance<#PDF_LINK>In January 2004, a High Council set up by the Prime Minister submitted a report on the future of France's jointly-managed sickness insurance scheme . The report focuses, beyond issues relating to balancing the scheme's budget, on the need to reorganise the healthcare system. Trade unions reacted cautiously to the substance of the report. Commentators believe that the consensus expressed in the report may break down when the exact shape of the government's forthcoming sickness insurance reforms become known.
- 01 Mar 2004
France: Debate on introduction of 'assignment contracts'<#PDF_LINK>A report on employment law reform, commissioned by the French government, was issued in January 2004. The most controversial proposal in the Virville reportis the creation of a new assignment contract, enabling employees to be recruited for the duration of a particular project. Such a contract has been demanded by employers, particularly those in the information technology services sector, but is strongly opposed by trade unions.
- 10 Feb 2004
France: Entertainment workers continue protests over unemployment benefit changes<#PDF_LINK>In January 2004, workers in the French entertainment industry continued their protests over a reform of the special unemployment insurance scheme for workers employed sporadically on fixed-term contracts in the sector. The changes came into effect at the beginning of the year, after the controversial June 2003 agreement instituting the reform was amended by the signatories in November 2003 and then enacted by the government.
- 10 Feb 2004
France: Decision clarifies rules on use of temporary agency workers in automobile industry<#PDF_LINK>In two decisions made in January 2004, the highest court in France (the Cour de Cassation) ruled that temporary agency workers should be used by automobile and aeronautical companies only in exceptional circumstances brought about by a temporary increase in workload.
- 10 Feb 2004
France: Industrial action hits SNCF<#PDF_LINK>After poor financial results in 2003, France's SNCF national rail company presented a draft budget for 2004 which provides for a pay rise of only 1% and 3,500 job losses. The plans are opposed by a number of trade unions, which called a strike in protest on 21 January 2004.
- 10 Feb 2004
France: Industrial action in protest at hospital reform initiative<#PDF_LINK>On 22 January 2004, a number of trade unions representing doctors and other staff called a day of strike action in opposition to a government initiative to reform France's state-run hospitals system, and in protest against shortages of resources. However, participation in the strike was low, and other hospital workers' unions have given their support to the initiative.
- 10 Feb 2004
France: Workplace elections held in public hospitals<#PDF_LINK>In November 2003, workplace elections of employee representatives were held in France's public hospitals. The vote confirmed the dominance of the CGT trade union, while CFDT recorded a sizeable loss of support and CGT-FO a slight drop. In response to hospital reforms planned by the government, the hospital workers' unions have split into two coalitions with different stances
- 03 Feb 2004
France: Have the French lost their work ethic ?<#PDF_LINK>During 2003, the question of whether French people have become disenchanted with work achieved a degree of prominence, with the government and some parliamentary representatives of the ruling conservative UMP party stating on several occasions that public policies should value work more than leisure. A report from the consultative Economic and Social Council has taken a different stance on the topic of the value of work.
- 02 Feb 2004
France: Social partners respond to bargaining reform plans<#PDF_LINK>In January 2004, the French parliament is debating a draft law on reforming the rules governing collective bargaining, submitted by the government. The proposals include giving company-level collective agreements precedence over sectoral agreements in many circumstances. Employers' organisations have largely welcomed the reform, but the trade unions are all opposed, though not always for the same reasons.
- 26 Jan 2004
France: Important workplace elections for future of EDF and GDF<#PDF_LINK>With possible privatisation of France's state-owned electricity and gas companies, EDF and GDF, making the headlines, workplace elections of employee representatives that took place in both firms in late November 2003 seem to have confirmed the employees’ opposition to the plan, with major support for anti-privatisation trade unions
- 26 Jan 2004
France: No 2003 pay rise for civil servants<#PDF_LINK>In November 2003, France's civil service minister presented the outlines of the government policy on the civil service to trade unions. There will be no pay increase in respect of 2003 and only a 0.5% rise in 2004. The minister also reiterated the government’s wish to take individual merit into account as a factor in civil servants’ career development and pay.
- 26 Jan 2004
France: Minimum income scheme reform adopted<#PDF_LINK>On 1 January 2004, legislation came into force in France introducing a new minimum employment income(RMA) scheme and decentralising the existing minimum integration income(RMI) benefit and assistance programme for people facing labour market difficulties.