For once, on the forecourt of Matignon, the information was not between the lines or in the words but on the tone. At the end of two hours of meetings with the Premier, unions and employers took the floor to make a hot assessment. An exercise to which the head of government then complied accompanied by the Minister of Labour, Olivier Dussopt.
After six months at knife point on the issue of pensions, with in apotheosis a shortened meeting at the beginning of April, the atmosphere at the exit was relaxed and the smiles more natural. First to appear in front of journalists, Marylise Léon, the new secretary general of the CFDT, highlighted "a useful meeting" with "answers on the change of method" promised. This is a sign that the fine promises of consultation, regularly repeated during the first months, seem to be becoming a reality.
Naturally, not all the representatives present were so positive. A few minutes later, Sophie Binet took the floor, to immediately point out that "today's meeting marks the appalling failure of the 100 days announced by the President of the Republic". The starting point of a new era, she argues. "What we have embarked on today is a takeover that marks the beginning of the next four years," she added.
In addition to the three other representative unions, FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC, the three employer organizations were also involved. The opportunity for the newly elected president of the MEDEF, Patrick Martin, to speak, with his predecessor at his side, but still for a few days number one of the organization, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, ready at any time to lend him a hand in case of unexpected questions. The most recent number one present recalled that "the country needs social dialogue" and its attachment "to a dialogue as autonomous as possible". The collective rejoicing session concluded with an intervention by the Premier. She described the exchanges as "very constructive", and recalled "her confidence in social dialogue".
See alsoAgreement on a new social agenda
The contours of an agenda
Behind these declarations of intent, announcements have been rare. The purpose of this meeting was to lay the foundations of the social agenda that will occupy the various actors in the coming months.
The first step was to define what depended on the autonomous agenda, i.e. managed freely by the joint bodies and the subjects that fell under article one of the Labour Code and therefore subject to a letter of guidance from the government.
Several issues were not unanimous. Thus, on the employers' side, it was hoped that the question of the employment of seniors or the universal time savings account, fall into the first category. In the end, the second option is chosen. To the satisfaction of employee representatives. "A policy document clarifies the government's objectives and therefore facilitates legislative transposition," Marylise Léon.
On the other hand, we should not expect to see progress in the coming weeks. There is still a long way to go. Discussions should take place to develop guidance documents. These should be sent at the end of August. At the same time, an inter-union should be held, according to Sophie Binet. Then the negotiations should last until spring 2024 to hope for transposition into law before the end of next year.
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In the shorter term, employers and unions should receive at the end of July, the scoping letter on the new unemployment insurance agreement, confirmed Matignon. Time is running out because the previous one is due to end on 31 December and negotiations are expected to be stormy. Several organizations hope to reverse previous reforms that changed the rules and duration of compensation, against the advice of the government. "The prime minister would have recalled being very attached to the criteria of 2021 and 2023," reported François Hommeril, the president of the CFE-CGC at the end of the meeting. Not enough to worry the number one of the CFDT who estimated to have "obtained what we wanted".