Federations criticise government for continuing pay freeze
Six public service federations (CGT, FO, FSU, SOLIDAIRES, CFTC and CFE-CGC) have agreed a joint statement attacking the government for imposing a further year’s pay freeze on public sector workers. The government has stated that it will not discuss uprating the index point (the basis on which public sector salaries are calculated) until the middle of next year. The unions argue that this will mean an unprecedented four-year freeze in pay. The federations are also critical of plans for further changes to pensions and to continuing job cuts. The organisations will meet again in September to review the situation with the prospect of co-ordinated action in October. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Day of action in waste sector
The CGT Services Publics federation has called for a national strike and day of action on 6 May for its members involved in the waste collection and management sector. The union is concerned about deteriorating working conditions and the health and safety risks faced by its members. It argues that services are under pressure because of reduced funding for local authorities and pressure to privatise waste collection services. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Unions challenge Veolia redundancy plan
Unions at the Veolia Eau water company are opposed to proposals from the company for a plan to cut 1500 jobs on the basis of voluntary redundancies or redeployments. They are also unhappy about company plans to change working time arrangements and cut holiday entitlement. The unions argue that the cuts will have an impact on services and workloads and are simply a way of boosting productivity to keep shareholders happy. Read more at > Humanite news website (FR) And at > CGT (FR)
Energy unions plan action on pay on 28 March
The four union federations in the energy sector (CGT, FO, CFDT and CGC) have called for a day of action on 28 March including work stoppages. This is part of a campaign to secure improved pay for workers in the sector where employers have unilaterally decided on a 0.8% increase in basic pay for 2013 when inflation is expected to reach 1.8%. The unions point out that this comes at a time when both the main employers in the sector - EDF and GDF - have seen profits grow by 16.9% and 11% respectively. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR) And at > FNEM-FO (FR)
New agreement on equality in public services
Despite some reservations trade unions have signed a new agreement on equality between men and women in the public services. It should require that all negotiations now take account of equality issues and that problems of inequality need to addressed through promotion, training, career development and recruitment. There is also a recognition that specific work needs to be done in relation to those sectors dominated by women where their qualifications are often undervalued. However, there was concern expressed over the lack of concrete plans for implementation or budgeted resources for the measures proposed. Read more at > CGT (FR)] And at > CFDT (FR)
Union takes strike action at GDF-Suez
Members of the CGT employed by six gas sector subsidiaries of GDF Suez have been taking strike action since 4 February. Their main demands include a shift in company policy away from a narrow financial focus on increased dividends for shareholders and a call to reopen pay negotiations. The union also wants to see a coherent policy for the group on the basis of providing security of energy supply as well as employment. Finally, the CGT is calling for an end to restructuring, site closures, job cuts and outsourcing. Read more at > FNME-CGT (FR)
Minister refuses to budge on pay and waiting day
Public service trade unions have taken action in recent weeks in the lead up to a meeting with the public services minister on 7 February over a range of issues related to pay and conditions. Although the Minister, Marylise Lebranchu, made positive moves on some issues the unions were disappointed that she refused to budge on two key points. The government is insisting on another pay freeze this year while also maintaining the waiting day that applies in cases of sickness absence. Read joint union statement at > CGT Services Publics (FR) And list of key demands at > CGT Services Public (FR)
Two-day strike over job cuts
The FNME-CGT, FO-FNEM and CFTC unions in the energy sector have called for two days of strike action on 21-22 January to protest at plans by the SNET energy company, owned by the Germany energy multinational EON, to close coal-fired power stations and cut 535 jobs by 2015. The unions want commitments to prolong the life of some power stations and to investigate the conversion of others while also confirming investment in new biomass initiatives.
Day of action over pay and jobs on 31 January
Three public service trade unions - CGT, FSU and Solidaires - have called a day of action, involving strikes, on 31st January. The protest is to put pressure on the government to stop job cuts in the public sector and to agree an across-the-board pay increase for all public sector workers. The unions point out that nearly a million civil servants and public sector employees are on pay rates close to the national minimum wage. Read more at > CGT (FR)
Health workers strike to defend collective agreement
Health workers in the CGT, FO and CFTC trade unions are to strike on 29 November in protest at employer plans to undermine their collective agreement. The agreement, originally negotiated in 1951, covers around 230000 employees in 3000 non-profit health and social institutions. The FEHAP employers’ organisation is looking to reduce costs and increase flexibility. Read more at > CGT (FR)
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