Like every year, the return to social life promises to be “hectic” on the side of the unions. But the more tense economic context for a few months, between a possible recession and inflation, has tightened the priorities: the centrals have the same objectives, starting with the increase in wages.
The unions do not want to negotiate below the level of inflation and press for some legislation that would stop the evolution of income over that of prices: Force Ouvrière and the CGT take up the idea of the sliding scale of salaries, indexation system established after of the war by Antoine Pinay’s coalition government, and abolished in the 1980s by Jacques Delors (Belgium still uses a similar system). The revision clause is also mentioned, for salary negotiations.
The CGT is also demanding an increase in the minimum wage and the minimums of the branches, as its general secretary, Philippe Martínez, hammered out on BFMTV on Wednesday, August 24:
Nathalie Verdeil, number 2 of the union, thus expects a law to “automate the raising of the minimum of the branches”. The idea has been brewing for some time and constitutes the ideological cement of the unions in this new school year: already in July, 8 union organizations and 4 student unions had signed a joint declaration on the subject. Such a consensus had not been observed for 10 years.
Unemployment insurance: new method, new conflict
The bloc is of the same ilk on the future unemployment insurance reform, the contours of which are taking shape: a general rejection is aimed at the very principle of a “Canadian-style” system, which would compensate the unemployed more when macroeconomic conditions improve. deteriorate, to reduce payments when there is employment and growth.
The method also repels. “Since 1958, all the reforms on the subject have been discussed by the social partners, assails Frédéric Souillot, secretary general of the Force Ouvrière. And now we say that we have to go through the law: it is not the principle of joint action”. ” The suppression of the salaried contribution for unemployment, replaced by a reorientation of part of the CSG, has been tense, as has the supervision of the negotiations by the State. The absence of an impact study of the first component, before the arrival of the second, joined the dispute.
The unions also lament the absence of the usual framework letter, not yet sent by the executive. A first version of the project must be presented to them at the end of the week: it must extend the compensation rules set by the first party for one year. The social partners will have four months to agree, before validation -or not- by the Ministry of Labour.
Pensions on the horizon
In the other great issue of the five-year period, pensions, another consensus has been established: the retirement age is sacralized.
The executive union is also not open on the subject, despite its support for several previous reforms, including the Touraine reform. By denouncing a form of hypocrisy.
Here again, the front has not been formed in recent days: the omnipresence of the issue during the presidential campaign, and in particular the project to take a step back at 65 launched by the candidate Emmanuel Macron, has brought union positions closer together.
Uncertain mobilizations
However, the start of the school year is not yet hot, since the power plants have not yet set their sights. The annual inter-union meeting on September 5, at the initiative of the CFDT, will mark a first common approach. Before, the CGT launched a first date of interprofessional mobilization, for September 29. South joined him.
I am not sure, however, that the proposal will find supporters: the CFE-CGC will not arrive, in the absence of a clearer slogan than the claim linked to purchasing power. The enthusiasm, on the other hand, is not very marked.
Relative majority and CNR: the expectation of equal representation
Between ideological coherence and practical dissent, therefore, lies the unique context offered by this return to school: a left-wing alliance and, above all, a presidential coalition defeated in Parliament. On this issue, the CGT has few expectations, noting that Renacimiento has already reconstituted a majority of labor to its right, such as the texts approved this summer -purchasing power law and reform of the finance law-.
The other opportunity is called the National Refoundation Council, of which everyone denounces the title and the constitution, judged more as a communication operation than as a political object. As the political parties back down, the unions are seizing the opportunity to restore a balance of power in this arena.
Thus, if François Hommeril denounces a “blind power” and evokes “great doubts about the intention” of the device – while claiming to want to participate in it – Frédéric Souillot wants to be ambitious:
All unions are calling for a more pronounced return to joint action, giving it a place next to the legislature. Hoping that the employees also grow. “I hope that the employees hear that this is not a return to school like the others, the reversal will not only take place in Parliament”, thus cuts Nathalie Verdeil.
Source: BFM TV
