War of nerves between unions and the government on the agreement "equality" in the public service

Subscribers article

They repeated it at a press conference on Tuesday 27 November: the CGT (first representative trade union), FO (3^e) and Solidarity (6^e) will not sign the draft agreement on professional equality in the public service at the end set by the government, Friday. "Our teams did not have enough time to lead the democratic debate" on the protocol, justified Gaëlle Martinez, general delegate of Solidaires.

The showdown is therefore between these unions and the government. And the mystery remains on the future of this project tied up on October 24, after a long work of several months conducted with the nine representative organizations of the public service. These theoretically had until Monday to consult their base. The other six announced that they would sign the text.

Since the government launched a broad-based consultation on a number of public service topics in March, this is the first time the machine has caught on. Because the three refractory organizations represent 51% of civil servants. And the government does not want a minority agreement. Scheduled Monday, the signing of the protocol was first postponed to Tuesday and Friday, "Because of the presentation of the bill of orientation of the mobilities Tuesday", Olivier Dussopt, secretary of state for Gérald Darmanin, minister of public affairs and accounts, who led the negotiations, is badured.

Paradoxical stiffness

But, for it to be signed on November 30, it will be necessary that government and unions overcome this tension all the more paradoxical that the bottom does not pose a problem to anyone, almost. Organizations appear to be generally satisfied with the "Real advances" of text, "Even if they do not go far enough", to use the terms of the CGT-Public Service. The goal is indeed to "To take a new step in the field of equality between women and men". Action Plan, Balanced Appointments, Fighting the Gender Pay Gap, the project builds on "On mandatory and binding mechanisms, which may give rise to financial penalties for non-compliance with the obligations laid down".

However, things seem badly engaged. The three restive unions seem determined to wait until the professional elections have pbaded, so December 6, to give their agreement. "The three-day lag [accordé par le gouvernement] does not answer the problem at all, said Gaëlle Martinez to take the time of the democratic debate in the trade unions and not this forced time that the government imposes on us ". Same argument to the CGT-civil service: Jean-Marc Canon, general secretary, badures "Unable to do so" to know what his troops think of the draft agreement, "Except to take such an issue over the leg". "The stakes of the agreement are immense, he says. We need to know what employees really think. "