Several million protest across France for action on economic crisis

On 29 January 2009, millions of workers, pensioners and citizens demonstrated in towns throughout France, responding to a joint call by eight of the country’s trade union organisations. The protesters demanded that companies, employers and the state adopt measures that are favourable to workers, jobseekers and pensioners, who are victims of the economic crisis. However, the trade unions, employers and government all appear to be maintaining a firm stance in relation to their respective demands.

Responding to a joint call by France’s trade union organisations, between one million people (according to the police) and 2.5 million people (according to the unions) demonstrated in towns across France. The protestors joined forces to highlight the fact that, given the economic crisis, ‘market laws alone cannot solve all of the problems’ and that the crisis ‘threatens young people’s future, endangers social cohesion and solidarity’, as well as affecting workers’ jobs and income.

The following eight trade union organisations called for the protest: the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (Confédération française démocratique du travail, CFDT), the French Christian Workers’ Confederation (Confédération française des travailleurs chrétiens, CFTC), the French Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff – General Confederation of Professional and Managerial Staff (Confédération française de l’encadrement – confédération générale des cadres, CFE-CGC), the General Confederation of Labour (Confédération générale du travail, CGT), the General Confederation of Labour – Force ouvrière (Confédération générale du travail – Force ouvrière, CGT-FO), the United Union Federation (Fédération Syndicale Unitaire, FSU), the Independent Union – Solidarity, Unity, Democracy (Solidaire, Unitaire, Démocratique, SUD) and the National Federation of Independent Unions (Union nationale des syndicats autonomes, UNSA).

Widespread support for protest

A mobilisation of this large scale has not taken place for many years and was even more extensive than the last big protest movement against the First Job Contract (Contrat première embauche, CPE) (FR0605059I). Many demonstrators also took part in middle-sized towns, which are not used to having demonstrations, according to the police.

The French overseas departments and communities (Départements et collectivités territoriales françaises d’Outre-Mer, DOM-COM) also lent their support to the protest. For example, on the day of the strike in metropolitan France, the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe embarked on the 10th day of its general strike against the high cost of living (FR0903019I).

Besides the trade unions and their supporters, the call to demonstrate mobilised a large section of the general population. As well as left-wing party members showing their support, many other groups contesting the government’s plans and reforms participated in the demonstration, such as school and university students, academics, magistrates and lawyers.

Joint trade union demands

In their joint statement, on 5 January 2009, the eight trade union organisations insisted on raising the following three points with companies, employer organisations and the state.

• Economic recovery should be focused on employment and purchasing power and thus:

  • give priority to saving jobs in the context of the economic crisis by: putting an end to the policy of cutting jobs; using job-saving measures such as short-time working, the reduction of working time (réduction du temps de travail, RTT) days and leave entitlement; and developing public services in a different way, with a particular focus on quality and jobs. All of these measures must be negotiated with the aim of preserving employment and pay. Companies should improve compensation for short-time working and all employees must be able to benefit from it. Such periods of reduced economic activity should be used to develop training and consolidate employees’ skills;

  • increase purchasing power and reduce inequality – in this context, any reduction in social contributions for employers should be conditional on the conclusion of pay agreements.

• Collective guarantees should be preserved and improved, for example, by:

  • repealing legal measures that have led to challenging the reduction of working time (FR0808039I);

  • withdrawing the proposed law on working on Sundays;

  • respecting social dialogue on all plans and proposed legislation that concern the regulation of work;

  • implementing reforms that promote social progress in the context of the General Revision of Public Policies (Révision générale des politiques publiqu es, RGPP).

• International finance should be more closely regulated.

Reactions to protest

All of the trade union leaders stated that they were pleased with the mobilisation and the widespread participation of both public and private sector employees.

Employer representatives were less enthusiastic however. Since the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on 28 January to 1 February, the President of the Movement of French Enterprises (Mouvement des entreprises de France, MEDEF), Laurence Parisot, stated that she ‘understands labour anxiety’; nevertheless, she considers the trade unions’ action as irresponsible, arguing that ‘it is not good news that – given serious, real and alarming difficulties – the only response that France continues to have is all-out protest, which in fact is quite confused’.

Speaking on the government’s behalf, Prime Minister François Fillon claimed that the day of protest was pointless, because ‘the role of a government is not to make gestures’ but ‘to hold its course of reforms’.

Government response

On 3 February, it was announced that the President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, would make a public speech on 5 February and meet with the trade unions in mid February. In addition, the prime minister and about 20 ministers outlined a €26 billion economic recovery plan for France (FR0903029I). The plan is to include over 1,000 measures, some of which were already planned in the areas of transport, housing, heritage and universities.

The eight trade union organisations met on 3 February and confirmed their joint determination to obtain responses to their demands. They also decided to meet again.

Trade unions maintain firm stance

CGT’s General Secretary, Bernard Thibault, considers that the 29 January mobilisation was ‘a very important event, without a passing angry outburst’ and he warned that ‘it will be followed up’.

According to CGT-FO’s General Secretary, Jean-Claude Mailly, ‘if the government does not hear and does not listen, it is clear that there will be more’. He added that ‘no response would be irresponsible and a sign of contempt’.

CFDT’s General Secretary, François Chérèque, believes that it is up to the government ‘to provide solutions regarding recovery via concrete measures for workers’. Mr Chérèque noted in passing that ‘MEDEF is apathetic and has not made any analysis of the crisis’.

According to the CFTC, ‘the government and employers must become aware of the serious nature of the situation’. The confederation believes that the lack of government understanding ‘could be lifted if the recovery plan was as big as the plan to save banks’, comparing the €26 billion economic recovery plan with the almost €400 billion invested to rescue the banks.

CFE-CGC contended that ‘initial government reactions seem to prove that the unions have been heard, but it is not sure that they have been listened to’. For its part, SUD highlighted that the most important outcome is that ‘demands are met’.

According to the then FSU’s General Secretary Jean Fabbri, the central priority should be ‘to stop cutting jobs (and) to start discussions on alternatives and accept that other policies are possible’. UNSA’s General Secretary of the education branch, Patrick Gonthier, also warned that ‘if the government does not respond, the trade unions know how to face up to their responsibilities’ and that ‘public services must become a priority again’.

Presidential speech

On 5 February, President Sarkozy spoke for 90 minutes on television and radio. The president indicated that he would introduce some social measures and announced that on 18 February he would invite trade unions and employer organisations to take part in discussions on the possible paths and measures that could be implemented, given the risks facing employment and also to ensure a better redistribution of wealth.

Commentary

The relatively harsh nature of the statements made by the trade unions, employers and government reflect the respective actors’ determination and the growing tension that is visible in their relationship. Tripartite and bipartite social dialogue – as well as inter-union dialogue – will therefore be firmly tested during the current economic crisis.

Benoît Robin, Institute for Economic and Social Research (IRES)