Collective Bargaining

In recent tripartite talks between the trade unions, employers’ groups and government officials, the discussion is how to find ways to protect freelancers who work exclusively, or almost exclusively, for one platform. One of the basic problems is how to differentiate between independents, with a portfolio of different clients to fall back on, and workers whose only source of income is a single Internet platform such as Uber. According to the press the government has given up on its efforts to give the self-employed the same unemployment benefits as salaried workers.

Read on: in English …

Room cleaners and other outsourced workers at the Holiday Inn in Clichy ended their 111-day strike on 8 February by signing an agreement with the hotel's subcontractor Héméra. The agreement signed by the trade unions puts an end to piece rate payment of housekeepers, mandates strict control of agreed working hours, guarantees two consecutive days of rest per week, eliminates contracts of less than 130 hours monthly and stipulates payment for time changing in and out of work clothes, among other important gains.

Read on: in English … in French …

The New York Times reports on the changes in the labour code. Just weeks after the new code went into effect, companies are readily taking advantage of the rules that make it easier to hire and fire. But the other changes, those designed to help cushion the blow like retraining programs, haven’t been put into place yet, leaving workers vulnerable to a coming wave of downsizing. The changes to the country’s voluminous labour code are part of a broad push by President Macron to revive growth and steer the country toward a Scandinavian-style economic model known as ‘flexicurity’. But the initial imbalance between employers’ rights and workers’ protections means the economic picture could get worse before it gets better.

Read on: in English …

The industrial action by increasingly angry prison staff entered a second week. The prison officers have blockaded dozens of jails after renewed attacks by inmates increased fears for wardens’ safety. A spokesman for the Ufap-Unsa trade union, which represents the majority of prison staff, said violence against warders was a ‘daily thing’. Earlier on, union officials rejected an offer to reinforce prison security with 1,100 new jobs, the setting up of special detention units for violent prisoners over the next four years and the reinforcing of prison security teams.

Read on: in English …

The head of the trade union CGT does not want the country to treat its workers like the UK and US, with zero hours contracts and no protection for the unemployed. He said that the controversial reforms by the current government cut into the power of the trade unions and make it easier for firms to lay off staff. The union leader believes Macron is influenced by the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ model but he does not want to see the same situation in France.

Read on: in English …

The government has launched a series of reform proposals. One of the proposals deals with the personal training budget (CPF). This CPF provides workers with the possibility to follow training courses in order to establish a level of qualifications or competences. The social partners currently discuss the modelling of the vocational education. The partners in bargaining have fixed a calendar for the negotiations that runs until February 2018. Trade union CFDT proposed to work out the different details in an interprofessional agreement.

Read on: in French (1) … in French (2) … The government proposals on vocational training: in French …

The trade unions in the care sector have formulated a joint call for strike on 30 January in the accommodations for dependent elderly people. The unions criticise the deterioration of the working conditions and the weakening support that can be given to the elderly. Workers and families have expressed their worries several times, without success. The budget cuts have led to a reduction of staff, bringing the workforce below the critical level that can guarantee a human and dignified care treatment.

Read on: in French …

Twenty Paris arrondissements were affected by a garbage-worker strike that started on 4 December 2017. Garbage collection workers, who are looking for a pay rise, blocked off the entrances to waste collection centres around the Paris suburbs. Around 400 workers went on strike, meaning rubbish in some parts of town simply hasn't been collected. The City Hall said it was open to wage negotiations with the workers.

Read on: in English …

The trade union CGT announced that it was calling for a 24-hour strike by workers in the gas and electricity supply industries over a pay dispute. It urged members to down tools so as to cause supply shortages and power plant outages. A union representative said proposals made by employers in pay negotiations were insufficient following salary freezes and tax increases that hit workers in 2017. The strike reduced electricity output by 1,000 megawatts.

Read on: in English …

The government has published the act that introduces a maximum gross salary for doctors provided by temporary firms. The maximum remuneration of temporary doctors at public hospitals that are recruited to tackle shortages of staff will be set at 1,170.04 euro for a 24-hours period in 2020 (the maximum in 2018 will be 1,404.05 euro). Temporary employment agencies will have to provide information on healthcare providers about the qualifications, the authorised licenses and the non-accumulation of activities.

Read on: in French …