The discussions surrounding the national interprofessional agreement on the universal time savings account (CETU) have hit a roadblock as Force ouvrière (FO) has refused to sign the agreement that was reached on April 23rd between the five main trade unions and the Union of Crafts and Trades (U2P). This rejection by FO weakens the legitimacy of the agreement, as it will only be approved by one employer organization (U2P) and two employee unions (CFDT and CFTC), with the CGT and CFE-CGC being against the CETU. This agreement is significant as it fulfills a demand by the CFDT and lays the groundwork for a system promised by Emmanuel Macron during the 2022 presidential campaign.
The discussions on the CETU began following the failure of negotiations on a “new pact for working life.” The talks involved all employers this time, but were unsuccessful due, in part, to disputes over the CETU. While powerful employers such as Medef and CPME opposed the mechanism, U2P was willing to find common ground with the unions on the CETU, believing it could enhance the appeal of small businesses. The agreement, developed on April 23rd, outlines a measure that allows workers to take a break during their careers for personal reasons like acquiring new skills, caring for a loved one, or taking a break. The CETU can be funded by various resources and can be used at any point in a worker’s career, even if they change employers, similar to the Personal Training Account (CPF), and will be managed by the Caisse des dépôts et consignations.
The rejection of the CETU agreement by FO highlights the difficulty in reaching broad compromises among social partners in recent weeks. This decision by FO has left the agreement supported only by one employer organization and two employee unions, weakening its legitimacy as a comprehensive solution. The disagreement over the CETU has been ongoing since talks on a new workplace pact failed, with powerful employer organizations opposing the mechanism. While U2P was willing to negotiate on the CETU, the disagreement among social partners will likely impact the implementation of the CETU and other measures promised by President Macron.
The rejection of the CETU agreement by FO is a significant stumbling block in the path towards comprehensive social agreements. The failure to reach a broad compromise on the CETU and other issues has highlighted the challenges in negotiations among social partners. With powerful employer organizations opposing key mechanisms like the CETU, finding common ground has proven difficult. This ongoing disagreement may hinder progress on important workplace reforms and social programs promised by political leaders.
Despite the rejection of the CETU agreement by FO, discussions on the universal time savings account will likely continue among social partners. The disagreement over the CETU and other issues reflects broader challenges in reaching consensus among different stakeholders in the labor market. While the rejection by FO weakens the legitimacy of the CETU agreement, it does not necessarily mean that discussions on this and other workplace reforms will come to a standstill. The complex nature of negotiations among social partners requires ongoing dialogue and efforts to find common ground on key issues.
In conclusion, the rejection of the CETU agreement by FO exposes the challenges in reaching broad compromises among social partners. The disagreement over the CETU and other issues reflects the complexities of negotiations in the labor market. While the rejection of the agreement weakens its legitimacy, discussions will likely continue as stakeholders work towards finding common ground on important workplace reforms and social programs. Despite the hurdles faced in recent negotiations, ongoing dialogue and efforts to build consensus remain critical in advancing key initiatives in the labor market.
