A sensitive context for further wage increases

With inflation reaching 3.6 in July over a year, the highest rate for seventeen years, the HRD had to sweat to large drops this summer about their social re-entry. Most talks mandatory in 2008 on wages, not had indeed anticipated as high inflation. For those whose agreements include clauses of revoyure (adjustment of the level of increases in light of the evolution of inflation), it follows the evolution of prices with anxiety. For others, it is the embarrassment which prevails among the directors of the human resources, reluctant to most to sit at the negotiating table a second time in the year. "I am more optimistic than at the beginning of the summer." The more reasonable scenario would be to see oil continue to descend, as observed since August. In this case, it is not impossible that the average inflation for the year is around 2.2. "It would be in nails with the overall envelope of the agreed increases in 2008 for executives, wage negotiations for the other categories of staff being decentralized in", said Eric Asselin, HRD of Keolys (transportation of passengers, roughly 38,000 employees). Something still, the agreement concluded in February allowed managers to monetize a portion of their days RTT stored on their savings time account. "It was potentially large sums of money because inventories were well provided in most of our executives." "But I was surprised because 40 of them preferred to keep their days RTT", continues Eric Asselin.

"Targeted assistance".

Some HRD, particularly in enterprises where the mandatory annual negotiations took place in the workplace of the year, had anticipated the problem, such as Jean de Corbière, HRD of JM Bruneau, supplier of office equipment: "We have negotiated in May." At the time, inflation was already starting to rise. "In agreement with the CEO, we said to be a consequent envelope does not have to renegotiate before the end of the year". Thus, a total amount of 4 of payroll (only in individual increases) was granted, 0.8 more than the previous year.

Lilly France, step of renegotiation with a view, but specific assistance for low wages has put in place in the workplace of the year: the employees earning less 2.500 monthly euros (892 individuals on 3,000) employees in total received an exceptional premium of 250 euros. "It is a targeted assistance that seems fair to me." I had budgetary flexibility margins to do so, but not for a comprehensive renegotiation. "He must be aware that our prices are eroding in the Pharmacy and, in spite of this, I still employed 40 people this year," said Jean-Baptiste Labrusse, HRD.

Another trail launched by the Government to help workers cope with soaring fuel prices: the premium transportation. Here again, the HRD are cautious, considering that the initiative may be good, if it is "temporary and conditional", as expressed in Claude Monnier, HRD of Monster, site of job opportunities in line with 217 employees in France: "we will discuss with the this.". The company could make a gesture by awarding a monthly lump sum which would be reviewable to one month on the other developments in the price of fuel. Employees must also make an effort, including by studying the possibilities of carpooling with co-workers or employees with the company are located in the same geographical area that we.

Union activism

The trade unions are not remain inactive. The CGT in Areva for example already requested a renegotiation of pay before the holidays and has well put the subject on the carpet in the coming weeks. "If management doesn't move, while our order books are well filled, there may be to protest walkouts in some institutions", said Alain Roumier, Coordinator CGT in Areva. Same activism in Vinci, where the CGT announced a day of action October 13 for the opening of renegotiation. In other companies on the other hand, the time is rather to the announcement of savings plans, or even restructuring: Renault will remove nearly 6,000 jobs from November in Europe, Accor announces plan of savings of EUR 50 million for 2009 with deletions of the key positions. A sensitive context for further wage increases.