3 times as dense as USA, only Canada and Sweden in the course less densely populated

Coalition of several former center right parties, largest of which was the Gaullist Party No members in current Parliament but its leader finished second in the 2002 presidential election

Traditionally they won about ¼ of the votes but they have lost ground in last decade However 2004 regional elections went overwhelmingly went to PSF and PCF coalition

Taxation and government spending both about 50% GDP compared to US at about 30%

Gave concept of revolution as way to induce change certain respectability Opened a wider breach in social classes than exists in US or even the UK

Characteristics established early in the history of unions and carried forward Reluctance to have anything to do with capitalist employer or capitalist state

Revolutionary organizations which don't bargain don't need large bureaucracies

Despite illegality of discrimination, employees fear joining will cost advancement or even their jobs Has been some recent change here giving unions with majority status veto rights over collective bargaining agreement which they never had before

3 Principal ones - lost membership over 1980s and have bounced up and down since An industry may have one federation from each confederation so may have 3-5 competing unions

With some exceptions, confederations often have strong control over the affiliated industrial federations Workers typically think of themselves as members of confederation rather than union (federation)

Communists emerged from war with organization in tact and with solid resistance credentials Collaboration of most French employers and upper class cost them leadership role that the PCF took up Some affiliated unions, e.g. printers, with non‑Communist leadership

Support best measured by votes received in elections for labor tribunals.  Most recent was 2002 Note that their overall support is clearly much greater than their actual membership Majority has voted for union candidates despite union membership being only small minority of labor force

Technical legal issue depending on several criteria especially independence from employers Gives these unions special rights in work places not dependent on the extent of their membership Unions survive and remain important perhaps less due to bargaining than due their other roles Helping administer health insurance, family allowance, retirement system and labor tribunals

Has the right to receive information and to be consulted on some decisions Their agreement is required in order to implement some economic decisions Can choose to have just works council or just personnel delegates

Employers, unlike unions, almost completely unified on industrial‑relations policy

Now engaging in some central negotiations over economic and social issues with union confederations

All the ones we talked about earlier are legally protected from dismissal

System operated by an organization managed jointly by the employers and unions

Must be negotiated with the Works Council and if no agreement must be submitted to arbitration Often not allowed but when layoffs are allowed they are usually accompanied by generous severance provisions 2005 government legislated to make it easier to layoff employees during their first two years Others include sickness, maternity, severance, family allowances, unfair dismissal, and minimum wage Minimum wage indexed to inflation and much higher than US minimum wage

Recent change to allow other representative unions to veto the agreement if they have a majority on the Works Council or among the Personnel Delegates However, via Works Councils employees have a legal right to have a say in the organization of work and working conditions

France has the second worst record in the course after Italy on gender equality at work

Quite common to call one-day demonstration strikes to protest variety of government policies Work to rule, etc., and other tactics that are considered strikes here Strikes less designed to create economic pressure than to display militance for internal consumption and to win public support Usually not initiated by union in connection with bargaining demands

Basic characteristic of French strikes is spontaneity.  Strikes over industrial issues but content largely symbolic and ideological March 1979, CGT steelworkers strike, one group occupied Notre Dame and rang the cathedral's bells while they hung a CGT banner across the towers

With CGT, CFDT, FO, and FEN all calling for National general strike At its peak, 10 million on strike and engaged in sit‑downs bringing economy to complete halt

Rail workers protesting proposed cuts in rail service and retirement and welfare systems Strikers included subway workers, electricity workers, telephone workers, hospital workers, doctors, teachers, flight attendants, air traffic controllers and dock workers

Can call in Government Labor Inspector in case of disagreement (BLW) Presence of personnel delegates, unions, and works councils, all at plant level, creates duplication and confusion over how to deal with grievances