By Joan Trevor
On 4 October all the main national trade union federations in France called a joint day of strikes and demonstrations. The first reports suggest that this has been well supported by workers — including many non-union members.
The unions are demanding an increase in pay — the spending-power of French workers has been falling behind price increases; defence of public services; and against unemployment, which currently stands at almost 10%.
The unions estimated that more than a million workers went on demonstrations; 350,000 in Paris. The actions have been well supported by the private sector, where many workers are worried about lay-offs. In Grenoble, Hewlett-Packard workers facing redundancy joined the demonstration.
Early figures for strike observance include: on the state railway, SNCF, 32% of workers; France Telecom, 25%; La Poste, more than 15%; Electricité de France, 23%; education, 25-37% depending on the sector.
The new prime minister of France, Dominique de Villepin had been having a quiet time since he replaced Jean-Pierre Raffarin in June in the aftermath of voters rejecting the proposed EU constitution.
Although the 29 May defeat for the government was blamed on voters’ anxiety about the government’s neo-liberal economic and social policies, Villepin pressed ahead with the so-called “reforms”. Among measures that worry the unions are proposals to make it easier for companies to hire — and to fire — workers, with the government paying the social security contributions of employers recruiting people on the minimum wage, and an attack on unions’ right to represent workers.
With what the government describes as ways to encourage job creation, the unions fear more “précarisation” — increased casualisation of the workforce.
The 4 October demonstrations come right on top of the furore over the SNCM ferry company. This state-owned company, established in 1976 to guarantee a service between Corsica and the French mainland, is suffering financial problems.
Instead of subsidising the company as a public service, the government proposed, at first, wholesale privatisation but, after fierce protests by workers, particularly in Corsica, privatisation with the government retaining a 25% stake. One of the new private sector partners is likely to be Connex, who did such a bad job running trains in the UK that they lost their two franchises.
While the actions by the workers on the Corsican end of the ferry route have been brave, even heroic, just possibly foolhardy, readers should know that the union that has grabbed the media attention, the STC, is linked to Corsican separatists, whose agenda is sometimes anti-working class. The STC have struck for a reactionary demand: more recruitment among Corsican, rather than mainland workers.
France’s biggest trade union federation, the CGT, is the majority trade union representing workers in the company, and opposes this policy.
An opinion poll before 4 October’s strikes showed that 72% of French people thought the actions were justified. Fear of the future is widespread among French workers, who do not want to pay the price for making the French economy more “competitive”. A glance across the Channel at the competitive, low-wage UK economy reveals why they need to worry.
The French minimum wage was raised in July to EUR8.03 (£5.45 an hour). The UK minimum adult (over 22) rate rises from £4.85 to £5.05 in October, with £5.35 proposed in October 2006; “development” (18-21) rate rises from £4.10 to £4.25 in October, with £4.45 proposed in October 2006. The 16 and 17 year olds rate is currently £3 an hour, but under review by the Low Pay Commission, due to report in… February 2006!