Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières, a journalist with “World” has answered your questions on balance sheet to be drawn from first day of protests against reform of labour code of 12 September.
The mobilization against reform of labour code, Tuesday, 12 September, has been deemed “successful” by CGT. The executive, for its part, continues to display his serenity in face of protesters.
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What lessons could be drawn from this first day of events ? Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières, a journalist in political department of “World,” has answered many of your questions.
-Yperi : The events can have an impact on implementation of orders ? Is re a counter-power to block those orders ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : Saw calendar, it seems very unlikely. Orders must be submitted by council of ministers on Friday, September 22 and published in official Journal in stride. Then, a ratification bill will be debated in Parliament, probably in October. Unless an exceptional event, such as protests against contrat première embauche, 2006, it is hard to see as government could go back on this calendar.
-Raph : In view of scattered order of unions upstream of this event (and ors to come), how can it be considered “successful” by CGT, in decline after recent elections prud labor ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : The CGT has actually welcomed this engagement. The figures that she has announced almost 500 000 demonstrators in whole of France) and those of ministry of interior (223 000) are close to those observed during first protest against act work scope by Myriam El Khomri, march 9, 2016. But at this time, central of Montreuil had dropped in street alongside of Force ouvrière (FO), which had brought in reinforcements non-negligible. This time, it is only with FSU, Solidaires and UNEF (already present in 2016) that it manages to mobilize so many. Anor reason of satisfaction for CGT : presence in parade of union activists whose directions were not called to beat pavement, and not only FO, but also of CDFT and CFE-CGC (frames).
-75011 : The trade unionists, FO and CFDT have been many, yesterday, in processions, despite appeal of se plants do not participate in movement ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : I was present yesterday at procession in paris. The activists of FO were at tail end of procession and had come from a relatively large number so that ir direction of confederation re was no need to protest. There were also unionized CFDT, conspicuous in ir orange ball, but y were only a few dozens. Ditto for those of CFE-CGC. Them had chosen to stand on steps of Opera-Bastille, but not to scroll.
-75011 : What are next appointment engagement of employees after this first day of action ? Should we expect to amplify or, on contrary a decrease of engagement ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : Two dates are included in social agenda next week. Even before y know result of 12 September, CGT has called for a new day of action on 21 September. That is to say, on eve of presentation of orders in council of ministers. Jean-Claude Mailly, secretary general of FO, said Wednesday that his union would be called, not more than 12, to mobilise.
Hard to say what will be success of this day of mobilization, which will take place barely a week after Tuesday. To be successful, numbers of engagement will have to be higher than those of 12. One can, however, be noted that, on Wednesday, federations CGT and FO of transport have called on road in a strike that is renewable from 25 September and CFDT and CFTC to a “mobilization” on 18 September to combat reform of labour code.
Two days later, Saturday, 23 September, France insubordinate who has been given an appointment in Paris to his supporters to move against what it sees as a “coup d’etat” in social. The challenge for Jean-Luc Mélenchon is to position itself not only as main opponent in national Assembly but also in street.
Even if context is different – we were in midst of presidential campaign, and walk he had organised march 18, between Bastille and Republic had been a success : it had managed, without aid of communist Party, making a true demonstration of power by bringing toger several tens of thousands of people – 130 000 according to organizers.
-VR : How police does it have on participants ? No re is no observer third-party and reliable ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : to answer this question, I refer you to this paper written by Samuel Lawrence, set-top boxes, during protests against law workplace of 2016.
-Gregory : Is it possible that this movement continues after ratification of Parliament in October ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : again, difficult to answer this question, but several outbreaks of discontent are being, or could be developed. There are, of course, this first mobilization against reform of labour law. As I said, federations CGT and FO of transport have called, Wednesday, on road in a strike that is renewable from 25 September and CFDT and CFTC to a “mobilization” on 18 September to combat reform of labour code.
But or announcements during summer were highly displeased, such as decline of APL or decrease in number of assisted contracts. Fears also exist in face of planned increase of CSG in January 2018. Officials are also concerned after announcement of freezing of ir index point in 2018 that is used to calculate ir pay or restore day of deficiency, also scheduled for next year. An inter-union meets Thursday, and could envisage a day of action in October.
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Anor concern for government : new academic year, which is likely to be tense between decrease of ELL high school graduates who still don’t have a place in caf or risk to implement a selection at entrance of university.
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The great fear of government, as of all those which have preceded it, would be to see se various distresses, which argue for time being in scattered order, coagulate to form one.
Cap : What is margin of manoeuvre left to unions prior to adoption of text, in addition to trying to mobilize crowds ? Changes are possible as a result of negotiations ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : As I said earlier, margin of manoeuvre of unions is very low, given time frame, more y are divided. There should be a mobilisation of very high magnitude so that government can consider moving. At present time, he has no reason to do this so that it puts in place one of campaign promises of most emblematic of candidate Macron. For president of Republic, back today, so that he is only re for a few months, would make result of his action difficult.
-Slafleur : The trade unions are-y are united as to manner in which y wish to counter reformation ?
Raphaelle Besse Desmoulières : No. And this is one of first victories of Emmanuel Macron : he was able to bring in game of dialogue with secretary general of Force ouvrière, Jean-Claude Mailly, who was yet one of opponents pushed law workplace of 2016. By doing this, he managed to break front trade union.
Even if most of trade union organizations have criticized ordinances, only CGT among five representative organisations, has called for a protest. In spite of “of fundamental points of disagreement,” Mr. Mailly has not joined, to him who considers that y have obtained reinforcement of role of branch.
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Despite its ” disappointment “, CFDT, which was not down in street in 2016, has not called to mobilize. And FO as CFDT also play next stroke, reform of unemployment insurance and vocational training, which is scheduled for coming months.
