Labour Research March 2003

Features: European News

French unions help US workers

Pressure from French unions has helped workers in the United States to gain union recognition.

Brylane, based in Indiana in the USA, is a subsidiary of the French retail giant, Pinault-Printemps-Redoute, and until recently it has refused to recognise a union.

The French unions in the company became aware of this and pressed their bosses to use their influence with the US management.

This pressure, together with the efforts of the US union involved, led to more than 50% of the employees joining the union, resulting in its recognition.