Labour Research December 2017

European news

French unions step up action


The main French union confederations are maintaining their opposition to the changes in the French labour code introduced by the government of Emmanuel Macron. This altered the law on collective bargaining, dismissals and employee representation, among other things. 


The two largest confederations, CFDT and CGT, have both lodged legal objections to measures, which are now in force, and the third largest, FO, is considering doing so. At the same time, there were demonstrations across France on 16 November, the fourth day of protest. Participation was limited — 8,000 demonstrators in Paris according to the police and 40,000 according to the CGT. But for the first time FO also took to the streets, although it demonstrated separately, in Marseille.