French pensions passed

The French government was on the point of successfully pushing through its changes to the country's pension structure as Labour Research went to press. The law was approved by the National Assembly on 10 July and only needed to pass through the Senate.

Labour minister François Fillon has been able carry through his two most contentious changes without further concessions. These are: equalising the length of contributions for both the public and private sectors at 40 years, an increase from 37.5 years for employees in the public sector; and providing for an increase in the required length of contributions, initially to 41 years, for everyone from 2008.

The changes have been made despite protests by up to two million people earlier in the year. But the union confederations concerned, in particular the CGT, feel that they have not lost their ability to mobilise their supporters and that they will need to do so on planned proposals to reform the health service.

There is also continuing bitterness between the CGT and other confederations who opposed the pensions plans, and the CFDT which backed them on the basis of limited concessions. It remains to be seen how they will line up in the battles to come.