On 13 February 2003, significant strike action closed down most branches and other workplaces of Banque de France, after the announcement of a reorganisation of the French central bank’s network. Bargaining between the management and the trade unions subsequently got under way.
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On 13 February 2003, significant strike action closed down most branches and other workplaces of Banque de France, after the announcement of a reorganisation of the French central bank’s network. Bargaining between the management and the trade unions subsequently got under way.
The introduction of the euro single currency and the establishment of the European Central Bank have altered the mission of the national central banks in the 12 EU Member States of the 'euro-zone'. Some, such as those in Spain and Belgium for example, have already embarked on restructuring. In October 2002, the governor of France's national bank, Banque de France, Jean-Claude Trichet, entrusted Yves Barroux, the bank’s general secretary, with the task of studying the rationalisation of the institution’s structures, mission and activities
On 7 February 2003, Mr Barroux’s recommendations were made public. He suggested the eventual closure of 149 of the bank’s 211 workplaces, and the loss of around 3,200 jobs out of the current workforce of a little over 16,000. He also proposed that the Banque de France should give up managing its 80,000 private customers’ accounts, considering that this is no longer relevant to the Banque de France’s current missions.
At the same time as Mr Barroux was conducting his assignment, the Banque de France, the Ministry of the Civil Service, State Reform and National Development and the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry were designing a 'public service contract' to bind them. This contract is to be finalised and signed in the next few months, further increasing Banque de France staff’s concerns.
Trade union response has been very forceful. A joint union coordinating committee - made up of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (Confédération française démocratique du travail, CFDT), the French Christian Workers’ Confederation (Confédération française des travailleurs chrétiens, CFTC), the General Confederation of Labour (Confédération générale du travail, CGT), the General Confederation of Labour-Force Ouvrière (Confédération générale du travail-Force Ouvrière, CGT-FO), the National Independent Union of the Banque de France (Syndicat national autonome de la Banque de France, SNABF) and the Independent Christian Union (Syndicat indépendant et chrétien, SIC) - was joined by the French Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff-General Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff (Confédération française de l'encadrement-Confédération générale des cadres, CFE-CGC), in calling a 24-hour strike on 13 February 2003. Levels of participation were very high. Between 62% (according to the management) and 80% (according to the unions) of employees at Banque de France branches took strike action on that day, with three-quarters of the 211 workplaces being closed for business. Following this initial successful action, the unions are planning others.
For months, the Banque de France trade unions have been establishing contacts with elected officials, drawing their attention to the threat to employment levels in provincial France if the Banque de France closes its branches. The French Association of Rural Mayors (Association des maires ruraux de France), the Small Towns Association (Association des petites villes) and especially the very powerful French Mayors’ Association (Association des maires de France, AMF) have all made official protests against the Banque de France management’s plans.
The Minister of the Civil Service, State Reform and National Development, Jean-Paul Delevoye, who was also the chair of AMF until he entered the cabinet in 2002, has distanced himself from the methods and 'the absence of dialogue' adopted by Banque de France management.
On 28 February 2003, the governor of Banque de France met with the joint union coordinating committee, an encounter during which he said that 'no decision' had yet been taken about the restructuring of the bank. The unions were due to present their proposals at a meeting with the governor on 24 March 2003.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2003), Strike hits Banque de France, article.
