Social conflict is bogged down at Sanofi. After little more than a week of strike initiated by the CGT on November 14, several hundred employees blocked the French headquarters of the pharmaceutical laboratory on Wednesday and broke into the premises. Since then the tension has not dropped. In question: the abyss between the demands of the unions and the proposals of the management.
The Mandatory Annual Negotiations (NAO) -today called negotiations on remuneration, working time and distribution of added value-, which took place on November 15, only reinforced the conflict. “In accordance with the request of the social partners and taking into account the economic context, Sanofi had decided to bring forward the NAO in France to November 15,” the company reminded us.
But these proposals did not convince. At the first meeting, management proposed an individual increase of 0.5% and a collective increase of 3%. He also promised a value-sharing bonus (ex-Macron prize) of 1,000 euros. In addition, the laboratory has agreed to hire 190 so-called precarious employees -that is, with fixed-term, temporary or professionalization contracts- with indefinite contracts.
Conditions considered very insufficient by the CGT but also by the CFDT, FO and SUD who have since joined the movement. “Today, there are 3,700 precarious employees, including 1,700 apprenticeship contracts, at Sanofi out of a total of 20,000 employees”, specifies Jean-louis Peyren, elected CGT. It is therefore a part of around 5% that would see their employment contract indefinite over time. For its part, the CGT would like this proportion to rise to two thirds.
Two thirds of the precarious contracts contracted in permanent contracts
Regarding wages, the union demands a collective increase of 10%.
The union also wants a 5% raise to be given to all employees as an upgrade, by 2022. “Last year there was only a 1% raise,” he specifies. The organization finally claims a bonus for sharing the value of 10,000 euros.
Result: the mobilization rose in crescendo after the first negotiating meeting.
Among them, some produce flu vaccines like the one from Val-de-Rueil (Eure). But the management ruled out supply problems, assuring that everything was “under control”.
On November 23, the tension rose another notch in Gentilly (Val-de-Marne), at the French headquarters of Sanofi. The demonstration led to scuffles between the police and the demonstrators, who managed to penetrate inside the compound. “The management did not even want to receive the employees of their own company,” lamented Jean-Louis Peyren. According to the CGT, 400 people mobilized that day, while there were 200, according to the Sanofi leadership.
Salaries above industry average
That same night, a second negotiation session resulted in new proposals from management. At the end of this meeting, the company agreed to increase the number of hiring precarious workers with an indefinite contract from 190 to 260. It also raised the shared value bonus from 1,000 to 2,000 euros.
However, on the issue of salary increases, Sanofi has not budged.
According to its latest figures, 6% of the 20,000 employees were on strike. The CGT speaks for its 2,300 striking employees. The organization will continue the strike until further notice and will block negotiations on matters other than wages.
Source: BFM TV
