(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #245 - Unionism: There
was once social thresholds (fr, it, pt) [machine translation]
A new "negotiation" National Inter-opened around the "social dialogue" in the company,
with the common goal posted by employers, government and the accompanying unions: breaking
the labor code to "simplify" the business life. In the game, the staff thresholds beyond
which must be created of representative bodies. ---- In companies, the obligation to
establish representative institutions is triggered depending on staffing levels. The
first, from eleven employee-es requires the election of delegates Personnel (DP). This is
an achievement earned in 1936 following lengthy strikes which allows for delegates bearing
the individual and collective claims. These delegates proximity are essential-the-s for
union activity and the construction of collective militants. They are the ones who best
know the reality of the business, which are often in contact with the employee-es, which
are legitimate in their eyes. DP meetings are often brought by employers in discussions
that are "related" or "secondary" by discrediting this mandate: it is no coincidence.
From 50 employee-es, the company must establish a works committee (EC), working conquest
postwar allowing to operate a power-cons in the company through the control of its general
course and organizing social and cultural activities related to the individual and
collective emancipation. Broadly, these bodies, with the CHSCT (committee on health,
safety and working conditions) set up as soon as EC exists, allow the existence of a trade
union activity and organization a balance of forces facing the direction even if the
rights are insufficient.
Parody of negotiations
The umpteenth parody of negotiations that opens at national level, which will bring a lot
of social regression after the law called "secure employment" is based on a rather
simplistic thinking pattern. These obligations are, according to the employers, a brake on
employment and hiring. As in 1986 with the removal of the administrative authorization for
dismissal obtained under a government that has the same label today, the results in terms
of employment are obviously not related. Delete "obligations" are rights for employee-es
is not the solution to the unemployment conclusively nor acceptable as a social project,
why not eliminate overtime pay? Redo children work? Where is the limit set by employers to
consider the achievements of social progress are to destroy to gain flexibility?
The only logic that guides his choice is very clear. By challenging the thresholds, the
capitalists do not want one thing: suppress union activity or at best relegate far, far
away from the company into a technocratic issue between disconnected specialists clash
class everyday.
Additional rights to win
The positioning of the accompanying unions is not a surprise, since all are ready to
monetize serious concessions at the expense of employee-es in exchange for social
recognition for their leaders, posts and 'recovery' of the militant path. However, the
position of the CGT, announced recently has something to question. It is betting on close
positioning of the CFDT but "far left", giving the option to remove the DP in exchange for
joint territorial commissions, or of delegates elected representatives at local level.
Delegates staff is essential and not allowing their removal that will strengthen trade
union activity. Today, it is the question of the actual additional rights that must be
asked: creation and widespread inter-company EC on a labor pool (eg shopping centers),
additional protection of delegates, building collective agreements to allow for upward
harmonization in the same industry regardless of the business, employee status, the EC
veto against job cuts... Unionism must have the means and tools to allow expression of
employee-es and enforce their decisions.
Strengthening trade union presence and develop remain the best responses to provocations
of the employers and the government. These representative institutions are one of the
foundations of social democracy: defending them!
RoberK (AL Montreuil)
http://www.alternativelibertaire.org/?Syndicalisme-Il-etait-une-fois-les
