26 January, 2009
French trade unions will mobilise in Paris on 29 January, the result of failed social talks within the public electric and gas companies. The issues are job retention, re-training, and fair pay, and failure thus far to meet social accord is the fault of the federal government and Medef, the employers’ council in France, say the unions.
Eight unions, including federations CGT, CFDT, FO, CFE-CGC, and CFTC, decided in early January to set the mobilisation date, with resumption of social talks scheduled early in February. The three-page declaration is described as a compromise among workers’ representatives at several French gas and electric worksites over the pay issue. The declaration calls for urgent measures to prioritise job retention, remunerations, and economic revival, beginning first at the workplace.
The declaration also said now is the time to increase low wages, social minimums, and to enhance re-training opportunities, an area of general agreement between the three parties. But the unions forcefully denounce French federal government plans to fire 30,000 people from civil service jobs.
The French trade union federations’ call for mass participation on 29 January is urgent, and it is a legitimate “workers’ awakening” in the resistance of the neo-liberal agenda.