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France

Background information on industrial relations in France

• 12 Dec 2006
  France: Disputes over funding and pay issues in public and private hospitals

  In the summer of 2006, several French unions representing specialist doctors called for strike action. Subsequently, in mid-September, the Private Hospital Employers’ Association, FHP, called on private clinics to close their doors. These disputes mainly focused on the funding of medical establishments and on the level of remuneration for doctors.

• 13 Nov 2006
  France: Government plan to minimise effects of hot temperatures in the workplace

  In the summer of 2006, a heatwave led to the premature deaths of some 110 people in France, including 12 workers at their place of work. In July, the Minister of Labour reiterated the rules that apply in workplaces in hot weather conditions; trade union leaders are calling for intersectoral bargaining on working conditions.

• 30 Oct 2006
  France: National action plan targets employment of older workers

  At the beginning of June 2006, the French prime minister presented a national action plan to promote the employment of older workers. This plan completes a national intersectoral agreement established in October 2005 and aims to improve employment opportunities and conditions for older workers. The social partners have reacted positively to the content of the action plan.

• 23 Oct 2006
  France: Unions sceptical about announced drop in unemployment rate

  Unemployment figures released in June and July indicate that the unemployment rate has fallen significantly to 9% of the active population. Overall, the number of job seekers has decreased by 100,000 people in April, May and June. However, the trade unions have declared that these results should be analysed with caution and want to know the reality that may be hiding behind the figures.

• 25 Sep 2006
  France: Government announces massive job cuts in civil service

  In June 2006, the government set a ceiling on expenditure and staffing for each ministry, to be implemented in 2007. A total of 15,000 jobs in the civil service are due to go. The unions are contesting the government’s decision, which in their view will jeopardise the quality of public services.

• 25 Sep 2006
  France: CGT congress endorses union’s future policy approach

  In April 2006, the French General Confederation of Labour held its 48th confederal congress in Lille. Following a discussion on its report on past activities, the congress confirmed the confederation’s policies during the previous decade. It reiterated, in particular, its commitment to trade union unity and adopted a new system for distributing membership dues.

• 25 Sep 2006
  France: Concerns over planned Gaz de France–Suez merger

  At the end of February 2006, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin revealed plans for a merger between two of France’s leading energy companies, Gaz de France and Suez. The merger plans had been in development since the summer of 2005. The corporation thus created would be one of the largest energy companies in Europe. The announced merger has provoked anxiety and opposition among employees, as well as strong criticism from other energy industry groups in Europe.

• 19 Sep 2006
  France: Trade unions claim increase in minimum wage is insufficient

  In July 2006, the government increased the hourly rate of the national minimum wage to €8.27. Although this represents a slight increase above the legal obligation, the trade unions expressed their disappointment over the small rise. Conversely, the employers consider it to be too high, even though the state will bear much of the cost of the increase rather than employers.

• 01 Sep 2006
  France: Students lobby for better work placement conditions

  In September 2005, students on work placements launched an internet campaign against abuses in unpaid work placements in companies, as well as in central and local government agencies. This led to the establishment of the movement ‘Precarious Generation’, which seeks a legitimate status for students on work placements. In the second quarter of 2006, the government was due to enact two decrees governing these placements.

• 01 Sep 2006
  France: New legislation aimed at regulating takeover bids

  In March 2006, the parliament passed a new law on takeover bids. The legislation is to incorporate the April 2004 directive, which sets out a common EU framework for takeover bids. However, the regulation will allow specific procedures affecting particular sectors that are deemed ‘strategic’ to be retained.

• 21 Aug 2006
  France: Observatory calls for integrated approach to combat poverty

  In April 2006, the National Observatory of Poverty and Social Exclusion published its fourth annual report. It reveals that, following a decline in recent years, economic poverty is once again on the increase. Trade unions have welcomed the government’s commitment to combating social exclusion by including funding in the 2007 budgetary plan.

• 14 Aug 2006
  France: Report presents proposals for modernising social dialogue

  A report presented to the French prime minister at the end of April outlines possible ways of modernising social dialogue. After consulting with the social actors, the Economic and Social Council will consider the recommendations in detail.

• 04 Aug 2006
  France: SNCF elections lead to shift in union allegiances

  In March 2006, rail employees at French National Railways (SNCF) elected works council representatives as well as employee representatives. Although the results have not affected inter-union hierarchies to the same extent as the previous elections in March 2004, they have brought about some changes including a fall in support for the General Confederation of Labour – the company’s largest union.

• 31 Jul 2006
  France: Mixed reactions to anonymous CV measure

  In March 2006, as part of the equal opportunities bill, an amendment was passed that will make it mandatory for all companies with 50 or more employees to preserve the anonymity of job candidates. The exact terms of implementation will be decided by further legislation. This provision has been created in a context where there is increasing emphasis on issues concerning recruitment diversity. Nevertheless, the new amendment has not received a warm welcome.

• 31 Jul 2006
  France: Working time agreement signed in metalworking sector

  In February 2006, employers and three trade union federations in the metalworking industry signed an agreement providing for the reorganisation of working time in the sector. The agreement includes provisions for an increase of overtime and of daily contracts.

• 25 Jul 2006
  France: Unions protest against plan to cut funding of prud’hommes tribunals

  In late April 2006, members of the prud’hommes industrial tribunals – the labour court of first instance – who were elected by employees, called for a demonstration in front of the Ministry of Justice buildings in Paris. The protest was against a draft government decree that proposes to cut funding to these labour tribunals and aimed to raise members’ concerns about the future of the tribunals.

• 25 Jul 2006
  France: Report on trade union representativeness published

  In May 2006, the prime minister received a report entitled ‘Towards effective and legitimate social dialogue: Representativeness and funding of employer organisations and trade unions’. The report was prepared by high-level civil servants under the leadership of Raphaël Hadas-Lebel, and outlines the current situation as well as making recommendations for future developments.

• 25 Jul 2006
  France: Pay negotiations in civil service end in failure

  For the eighth consecutive year, pay negotiations in the civil service have ended in failure. The trade unions have not obtained their desired pay demands, and increases for 2006 will instead adhere to those recommended by the civil service minister. Nonetheless, three of the seven civil service union federations have agreed to sign an agreement providing for improved social conditions and pay scales for civil servants.

• 18 Jul 2006
  France: Proposal for new law on immigration adopted

  In May 2006, the French parliament adopted the proposal for a new bill concerning immigration and integration. The proposed legislation aims to enforce a policy focused on ‘selective immigration’ and on stricter controls of immigration procedures. Issued in the run-up to the 2007 presidential election campaign, and as various employee and employer organisations are negotiating an agreement aimed at combating ethnic and cultural discrimination, the legislative proposal has come under severe criticism.

• 11 Jul 2006
  France: New law on equal opportunities to tackle urban violence

  In March 2006, the French parliament adopted a law on equal opportunities in response to the wave of urban violence which took place in autumn 2005. The law encompasses a number of key areas concerning the promotion of youth employment, provision of career advice and training, combating discrimination, and reinforcing parental and local authority responsibilities. Some of the new measures have attracted strong criticism from the social partners.

• 11 Jul 2006
  France: Repeal of new employment contract for young people

  In February 2006, the government introduced a new employment contract covering people aged under 26 years, who are hired by companies with more than 20 employees. The so-called ‘first job contract’ (Contrat première embauche, CPE) introduced a significant amount of flexibility into the redundancy procedure. In response, trade unions and student unions mobilised on a wide scale to demand the withdrawal of the CPE. By mid-April 2006, the CPE was withdrawn.

• 12 Apr 2006
  France: New rules for government spending and borrowing

  While the government pursues its programme of income tax cuts which will extend into 2007, a new instrument for controlling public spending has been put in place. Although the government's budget deficit was contained in 2005, the national debt exceeded 60% of GDP. As a result, the government announced a further programme of spending cuts. Moreover, the fall in direct taxation (income tax) may be suspended after 2007, as the government seeks to control and regulate its spending.

• 14 Mar 2006
  France: Renewal of unemployment insurance agreement

  The three-year UNEDIC agreement setting out the rules governing the unemployment insurance joint management system is in the process being renewed. As was the case in 1993, only three of the five representative unions are expected to sign the agreement. The representative employer organisations have all endorsed the deal. The agreement contains the minimum stipulations but fails to address all the fundamental issues facing the unemployment insurance scheme.

• 06 Feb 2006
  France: The Privatisation of SNCM: a symbolic dispute

  In September 2005, the government’s total privatisation plan for the SNCM ran into opposition from the unions. After three weeks of a particularly heated dispute, a new distribution of capital was obtained but job losses have been announced.

• 06 Feb 2006
  France: Forty-Ninth CFTC Congress

  The CFTC held its forty-ninth convention in Bordeaux in November 2005. Jacques Voisin and Jacky Dintinger were re-elected president and secretary general respectively. The CFTC is keen to maintain the momentum of its 2002 industrial election showing and to continue to develop membership with the slogan hope, build, share.

• 26 Jan 2006
  France: Assessment of health insurance system post-reform

  In late November 2005, the French Parliament passed the 2006 Social Security Finance Act (Loi de financement de la Sécurité), which is a component of the August 2004 Health Insurance Reform Act. The legislation is designed to end the deficit in the social security system by 2008.

• 26 Jan 2006
  France: New initiatives for company restructuring

  The creation of a new inter-departmental body in October 2005 was the second of two recent initiatives aimed at providing a framework for company restructuring in France. The first initiative involved the endorsement by the Economic and Social Council of its recommendations on the outsourcing of work. The primary motivation behind these initiatives is to emphasise the need for ensuring better monitoring of restructuring, while mitigating its negative economic and social consequences.

• 25 Jan 2006
  France: Results of workplace elections in state education sector

  In December 2005, teaching staff in French state primary and secondary schools elected their representatives on various national and local consultative bodies. The Unitary Union Federation (FSU) remained the best supported trade union overall, with nearly 47% of the vote. Turn-out fell to 61.4% from 65.9% in the previous elections in 2002

• 11 Jan 2006
  France: 46-day strike at Marseilles Transport Authority

  After 46 days of industrial action, Marseilles transport authority employees voted to suspend the strike that had started on 3 October 2005, and was called to protest against the contracting out of public services to a private company. Throughout this tense struggle, the management of the Marseilles Transport Authority supported by Marseilles city council, did not want to yield any ground, and made a number of attempts to thwart the strike.

• 04 Jan 2006
  France: Draft agreement reached on promoting employment of older workers

  Negotiations among the French social partners on promoting employment for older workers opened in February 2005 and resulted in a draft national intersectoral agreement in October. Measures agreed include a new form of fixed-term contract for workers over the age of 57. However, the trade unions have reservations, especially as linked negotiations on retirement for workers with arduous working conditions and on unemployment insurance are still under way, while the government is preparing a plan for the employment of older workers.