Responsibility pact

French unions and employers have reached a deal setting out what the employers must do to benefit from cuts in government charges and other changes included in the “responsibility pact” proposed by the government of François Hollande (see Labour Research, February 2014, page 8).

The deal requires employers and unions at industry level to open discussions on targets for employment in their industries. There is, however, no obligation on the two sides to reach agreement.

For two of France’s largest union confederations, CGT and FO, this meant that they could not sign the deal. The CGT said that the employers were not “willing to do anything”.

However, three other confederations, CFDT, CFE-CGC and CFTC, were prepared to sign the deal.