On the evening of Monday, June 3, the leaders of the eight main employers’ and employees’ organizations met at the headquarters of Force ouvrière (FO) in Paris to try to restore dialogue, nearly two months after failing to conclude a new “work-life balance pact.” While the meeting went well, the resumption of discussions proved to be difficult. The disagreement in April, centered around the key theme of the universal time savings account (CETU), left its mark among representatives of workers and employers, as well as within the employers’ group itself.
“It was important for us to communicate again,” said Patrick Martin, president of the Medef. The exchanges on Monday evening were described as “frank and direct” by François Asselin, president of the Confederation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (CPME), implying that the participants spoke candidly after the unsuccessful negotiations in April. Frédéric Souillot, the head of FO, expressed his disappointment over the failed talks and discussed it with the employer representatives on Monday evening.
The meeting between social partners allowed for an evaluation of the setback. However, Marylise Léon, secretary general of the CFDT, expressed doubts about whether everyone learned the same lessons from the failed negotiations. She suggested that not everyone made the necessary effort to reach an agreement, indirectly criticizing Medef and CPME. Cyril Chabanier, president of the CFTC, believes that there was a collective failure in reaching an agreement, a view shared by Mr. Asselin. The process of negotiations and the lack of clear mandates on the employer side were also criticized by union leaders.
The way negotiations were conducted is being questioned, especially from the union side. François Hommeril, president of the CFE-CGC, pointed out a lack of clear leadership and a reluctance to make concessions on the employer side. Chabanier emphasized the need for more efficient and transparent discussions to avoid prolonged periods of inaction. He urged everyone to communicate openly from the start to save time and energy. The need for better communication and a more effective negotiation process emerged as key takeaways from the meeting between social partners.
