This is a novelty since the beginning of the pension reform. Elisabeth Borne receives all the business and union organizations, all together, this Wednesday in Matignon, starting at 10 am. Objective: to relaunch a new social agenda and, in the words of the President of the Government, “to build together a new pact for life at work”, wanted by Emmanuel Macron.
Issues ready to be negotiated…
The CFDT, headed by its new general secretary Marylise Léon, the CGT, FO, the CFE-CGC and the CFTC, representative unions, as well as the Medef, which will be represented by Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, accompanied by his successor from 17 July, Patrick Martin, the CPME and the U2P will be received by the Prime Minister two days before the 100-day deadline set for July 14 by the Head of State following the pensions crisis.
Prior to this meeting, employers and unions have already agreed on the issues on which they are likely to compromise and are therefore ready to negotiate among themselves, with a framework letter from the government. This is the case of hiring older people and setting up a universal time savings account. This is also the case for hard work, with the implementation of prevention and recycling systems as key.
…and the pressure on wages and unemployment insurance
However, there are two unresolved issues that give rise to differences between unions and employers. First, unemployment insurance. Employers are willing to discuss but on the basis of previous reforms and therefore maintaining the principle of modulating the duration of benefits according to the economic situation. A principle rejected by the unions that require them to start from a blank page.
Another stumbling block: the question of wages. Although the unions are turning it into a workhorse in a context of persistent inflation and post-pension reform, for employers this is not a matter of inter-professional negotiation but of branches and companies on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, it is up to the government to decide.
Employers and unions are also waiting to find out if the government is really willing to give them room for maneuver and time to negotiate.
Aborted meeting with Emmanuel Macron
Elisabeth Borne’s last meeting with each of the unions and employer organizations separately, on May 16 and 17, was marked by rancor after three months of strikes and demonstrations and the forced step of the Government to approve the reform to 64 years of retirement age.
After enacting the disputed reform, Emmanuel Macron said he wanted to receive the unions “in May”, but the meeting never came to fruition. Until recently, negotiations were taking place behind the scenes for a meeting at the Elysée before the summer break.
The announcement of this multilateral meeting with the President of the Government seems to indicate that the President has had to give up personally reconnecting with the unions for the moment. In an attempt to end the pensions crisis, Emmanuel Macron has floated the idea of a “working life pact” and has asked the social partners to build the agenda for this summer and then negotiate the content “until the end of anus”. “.
Source: BFM TV
