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18 September, 2006
French ICEM affiliate CGT Verre et Céramique calls for a day of action on 9 October, following the withdrawal by MEDEF, the French employers’ association, from the ‘hazardous jobs’ dialogue in the glass and ceramics sector.
A 2003 French law calls for negotiations on the recognition of ‘hazardous jobs’ to be finished by 31 December 2006. Ongoing negotiations between unions and employers so far have not yielded results. Worse still, MEDEF has now decided to leave the bargaining table, stating it will push back the whole effort until after the elections of 2007. According to the CGT, this is clearly an attempt to postpone discussions indefinitely, and therefore unacceptable.
The CGT Verre et Céramique wants to keep the early retirement age at 55 and considers the recognition of ‘hazardous jobs’ in the glass and ceramics industries to be one of its priorities. Several studies have indicated a critical reduction in workers’ life expectancies when operating in hazardous environments.
The CGT calls upon its members to organise, together with the other professional Federations of the CGT, as well as with other unions in France, actions necessary on 9 October, ranging from petitions to strikes.