2024-09-10 14:12:59
Michel Barnier is “a very level-headed, very determined and very experienced man”. The president of the Medef, Patrick Martin, was full of praise this Tuesday morning on RTL for the new Prime Minister. The choice of a man from the right and the personality of the former European Commissioner reassure the employers who fear seeing the “virtuous” pro-business policy called into question. This is what emerges from the statements of the boss of the bosses who has been stingy with openings towards the unions on both pensions and unemployment insurance.
On the first subject, he certainly did not close the door to new discussions, but only on “women’s careers” and “wear and tear at work” and, like Michel Barnier, on the condition of preserving “financial balances”. Without a word on the employment of seniors, he also targeted “the level of social protection”. “Perhaps we need to go further”, on the reform of unemployment insurance, he also launched while Gabriel Attal had to give up toughening its conditions and that it is a casus belli with the unions.
Only political sequence
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Pre-negotiation position or more sustainable? In any case, it has not escaped the employers’ notice that if the absence of an absolute majority in the Assembly strengthens the weight of the social partners, Emmanuel Macron‘s choice rather supports him in the balance of power with the employee organizations. This has not escaped the latter either and it worries them.
Many are counting on Catherine Vautrin remaining in the Ministry of Labour and therefore that there would not be the appointment of a left-leaning personality to the post, which would have been an advantage for employee organisations.
For the time being, both employers and unions are waiting for a first meeting with the Prime Minister, which should not be long.
At the meeting that brought together the leaders of the eight employee organizations at the Solidaires headquarters and via videoconference on Monday evening, it was decided to delay. “We didn’t see Michel Barnier, that could be misinterpreted,” said a participant in the inter-union meeting, expressing the point of view of the majority of organizations. “We’re giving him a chance,” explained the president of the CFE-CGC, François Hommeril.
Between frontal opposition and the gamble of dialogue
“The majority of organizations wanted to wait for the general policy speech, but the text signed on July 11 by all the unions, which recalls our social demands, remains relevant,” insists Sophie Binet, the general secretary of the CGT. In this statement published four days after the legislative elections, the CFDT, the CGT, FO, the CFE-CGC, the FSU, the Unsa and Solidaires insisted on the need for more “social democracy” and demanded that the unemployment insurance reform be “definitively abandoned” and that the pension reform be “repealed.”
But if a year before, on October 13, 2023, all the unions had called for a mobilization against austerity and for wages, this time only the CGT, Solidaires and the FSU will mobilize on October 1is October. Beyond the traditional annoyance of some at seeing the Montreuil power station impose a date (even if Sophie Binet mentioned the idea of a mobilization from July and was flexible on the date), the disagreement concerns the strategy to adopt in the face of the new government, between frontal opposition and dialogue.
However, there is no question of breaking the inter-union dynamic that has been underway since 2022. Everyone knows that if they play the divider, they will have more to lose than to gain. This “dialogue is an achievement of the pensions conflict that will not disappear”, assures François Hommeril. The decision was taken to postpone the next inter-union meeting until after Michel Barnier’s general policy speech in early October.
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Who is Michel Barnier?
Michel Barnier is a French politician who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France. He is a well-known figure in European politics, having served as the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2010 to 2014 [[1]]. Barnier has also served as the French foreign minister and has been involved in various political roles throughout his career.
The Appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister
The appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister has been met with praise from various quarters, including the president of the Medef, Patrick Martin, who described him as “a very level-headed, very determined and very experienced man” [[3]]. Barnier’s appointment is seen as a reassurance to employers who fear that the “virtuous” pro-business policy may be called into question.
Barnier’s Stance on Labor Reforms
As Prime Minister, Barnier is expected to take a stance on labor reforms, including pension and unemployment insurance reforms. According to Patrick Martin, Barnier is open to discussions on “women’s careers” and “wear and tear at work” but only on the condition of preserving “financial balances” [[3]]. This stance has been met with skepticism from unions, who are worried about the impact of Barnier’s policies on workers’ rights.
Reactions from Unions and Employers
The appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister has been met with a mix of reactions from unions and employers. While employers are optimistic about Barnier’s pro-business stance, unions are worried about the impact of his policies on workers’ rights. The CFDT, the CGT, FO, the CFE-CGC, the FSU, the Unsa, and Solidaires have all signed a statement calling for more “social democracy” and demanding that the unemployment insurance reform be “definitively abandoned” and that the pension reform be “repealed” [[3]].
Meeting with Unions and Employers
A meeting between Barnier and the unions is expected to take place soon, where the Prime Minister will outline his policies on labor reforms. The unions have decided to delay their response to Barnier’s appointment, choosing instead to wait for the general policy speech before making their stance known [[3]].
Conclusion
The appointment of Michel Barnier as Prime Minister of France has significant implications for labor reforms in the country. As a former European Commissioner and French foreign minister, Barnier brings a wealth of experience to the role. However, his pro-business stance has raised concerns among unions, who are worried about the impact of his policies on workers’ rights. As the country waits for Barnier’s general policy speech, all eyes will be on the Prime Minister’s stance on labor reforms and how it will affect the economy and workers in France.
References:
<a href="https://europa.eu/rapid/press-releaseIP-16-2652it.htm”>[1]
<a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/european-union/article/2024/09/05/eu-leaders-say-new-french-pm-Barnier-has-europe-s-interests-at-heart6724947156.html”>[2]
Who is Michel Barnier?
Michel Barnier is a French politician who has recently been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France by President Emmanuel Macron[[[2]]. Born on January 9, 1951, in La Tronche, France, Barnier is a seasoned politician with a wealth of experience in European politics [[1]]. He has served as a commissioner, advisor, and head Brexit negotiator for the European Commission.
A Level-Headed and Experienced Leader
The president of the Medef, Patrick Martin, has praised Barnier as “a very level-headed, very determined and very experienced man” [[3]]. This endorsement comes as no surprise, given Barnier’s track record of navigating complex political landscapes. As a former European Commissioner, he has earned the respect of many for his ability to broker deals and find common ground between opposing factions.
A Pro-Business Policy
Barnier’s appointment as Prime Minister has been seen as a move to reassure employers who fear that the “virtuous” pro-business policy may be called into question. The Medef boss, Patrick Martin, has expressed confidence that Barnier’s personality and experience will help to maintain the balance of power between employers and employee organizations.
A Balancing Act
As Prime Minister, Barnier will need to navigate the complexities of French politics, where the absence of an absolute majority in the Assembly has strengthened the weight of social partners. Macron’s choice of Barnier has been seen as a move to support the balance of power with employee organizations, which has not escaped the notice of the unions. The unions, in turn, are waiting to see how Barnier will approach the pension and unemployment insurance reforms, which have been a contentious issue in recent times.
A Chance for Dialogue
The unions have expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue with Barnier, with the president of the CFE-CGC, François Hommeril, saying that they are “giving him a chance.” This sentiment is echoed by Sophie Binet, the general secretary of the CGT, who emphasized that the unions remain committed to their social demands, including the need for more social democracy and the abandonment of the unemployment insurance reform.
Michel Barnier is a seasoned politician who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France. His experience and level-headed approach are seen as a positive development by many, who hope that he will be able to navigate the complexities of French politics and find common ground between opposing factions. As Barnier begins his term as Prime Minister, all eyes will be on him to see how he will approach the pressing issues of pension and unemployment insurance reform, and whether he will be able to find a balance between the interests of employers and employee organizations.
