Call for protest on French working week reform plan

France's largest trade union federation yesterday called for a mass turnout next month to protest against President Nicolas Sarkozy's plan to give firms more scope to bypass the 35-hour work week.

Unions had agreed in principle such negotiations could take place at company, rather than industry, level but are angry over a government plan unveiled this week that goes much further.

Employment Minister Xavier Bertrand's proposal would open the way for negotiations over the maximum number of overtime hours employees could rack up, and the compensation they would receive if they worked longer than this maximum.

Firms would need the approval of unions which had the combined backing of 30 per cent of employees to reach accords on these topics, rather than the 50 per cent agreed by unions.

"They are preparing to destroy huge swathes of labour law and we will not allow this to happen," Bernard Thibault, the head of the influential CGT trade union told RTL radio.

France's biggest unions, the CFDT and the CGT, want demontrations on June 17.

"The French who get up early, and those of them who also go to bed late, will take to the streets," he added in a reference to Mr Sarkozy's election pitch that urged people to get up early and work more to earn more.

Mr Sarkozy has faced protests on a number of issues in recent weeks, including plans to make people work longer to qualify for a full pension, soaring fuel prices, teaching job cuts, and moves to privatise the loading activities of state-run ports.

None of these protests caused as much disruption as 2007 strikes against pension reform in the state sector, but Mr Sarkozy has been loath to irk unions at a time when his popularity is at record lows for a president only one year in office.

He therefore distanced himself last week from a call by the chairman of the ruling UMP party for the 35-hour work week to be scrapped and promised only to raise ceilings on overtime.

Such caps vary according to the sector and can be below 220 hours per year which is the current legal maximum.

France's centre-right government presents such a move as a way of putting more money into people's pockets at a time when incomes are being squeezed by soaring food and energy costs.

"We want to allow France to escape from the shackles of the 35-hour week. We want it to be possible within firms for workers to negotiate on the use of overtime work," Prime Minister François Fillon said during a trip in Helsinki.

"All those who will want to work 35 hours will continue to work 35 hours," he added.

However, at least some unions say the reality will not live up to these promises.

"The president and the government are relentlessly pursuing their plan of dismantling all the social protection that has been built up over the years," said Solidaires, a grouping of smaller unions, in a statement.

"Workers' reaction should be as strong as the attack. You must prepare for a major conflict, and June 17 should be its prelude."