Marches européennes / NEWS Reduction in working hours: France gives the time The French prime minister announced on Friday October 10, a new bill for the legal reduction of the working week without loss of salary. French employers swiftly made their opposition to the new measures known. The president of the French employers, (Confédération Nationale du Patronat Français, CNPF) resigned, reckoning that his post should be taken over by a ³combative president.² The reduction in working hours, is a logical argument that is defended with varing shades of nuances by unions, and associations of the unemployed in France. But all unemployed associations (AC!, APEIS, MNCP) are united in their demand a 32 hour week tied to job creation and without loss of purchasing power for wage-earners, whilest the trade unions remained relatively divided on the question. The French government¹s position immediately attracted European interest with resounding effect. The Prodi government crisis in Italy, could solve their crisis on such similar propositions as the reduction of working hours as the French measures are based on an agreement which refers to ³35 hours in 2001² while stipulating it application in practice. The French government¹s declaration of the new measures on October 10, is however very vague. In actual fact, nothing has been fixed, so only mobilisation by wage-earners and the unemployed will overcome obstacles to a reduction in working hours with the creation of new jobs. The legislative timetable given for negociations (2 years for business employing more than 10 people, 4 years for the rest) risks being used by employers to apply job flexibility and intensify the work routine, cutting out any positive effects of a reduction in the working week. The French prime minister, Lionel Jospin, stated that negociations should include the organisation of work and changes in the working schedule.There is a great risk that French business will jump on these new provisions, such as the cancellation of a fixed working day, that can be used by them to avoid hiring labour and which will entail a deterioration in working conditions, because wage-earners will be forced to work according to the number of hours and length of time chosen by the employer. Likewise, even though the government has declared its intention to rexamine ³abuses² arising from legislation encourageing part-time employment, nothing has been clarified in the new measures planned. Meanwhile, part-time work is increasingly imposed and wide spread, to the disavantage of women in particular. Financial incentives have been ear-marked for businesses introducing shorter working hours, at little financial cost to employers. Lionel Jospin stated that 35 hours will be introducted without loss of salary, but the reduction will be tied to a ³moderation of salaries² which means in employers¹ jargon, a freeze or a lost of purchasing power. Actions have already been planned in France, which will allow for the convergence of those involved in the social movement. For November 15, the Appeal launched by the National Collective for the Rights of Women, for a demonstration in Paris; and of course, the November 20, demonstration in Luxembourg. Other initiatives will also be planned. The bill on the 35 hour week will not be presented before the French Assembly before the beginning of 1998. By that time, wage-earners, associations and trade unionists should for time to build together a mass mobilisation equal to stakes involved. On a European level, the stakes are high : the creation of a movement for the reduction in working hours concerning each and everyone. On November 20, in Luxembourg city, we will be there to defend that idea ! Regards, Tom Walker ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ knoW Ware Communications Vancouver, B.C., CANADA [EMAIL PROTECTED] (604) 688-8296 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The TimeWork Web: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/
