Cacophony union on pension reform
Posted by admin | Under business, events, international, publications, world Tuesday Apr 13, 2010Eric Woerth, Minister of Labour in charge of pension reform on Monday received the representatives of unions and employers. Feedback gathered at the exit interviews showed deep antagonisms and augur of delicate negotiations to achieve a reform of the system.
• Daniele Karniewicz (CFE-CGC): President of the National Fund for Pension Insurance (CNAV), also charged with negotiating on behalf of the union executive (CFE-CGC) pleaded for a shield retreat "that would ensure a minimum level, that is to say a percentage of final salary for each activity that affect. "It is imperative that we find a consensus together, not to say on what lever we will play for pensions, but to say what level of pension is to be preserved for all private sector employees," she said on BFM Radio .The CFE-CGC is the only union to push for a postponement of the legal retirement age and wish to conduct a "reflection on the duration of activity."
• J ean-Claude Mailly (FOR): Secretary General of Pensions work force has already warned it was "not negotiable" for the union to reach the legal age of retirement set 60 years or the duration of contribution. "If the government really wants to push (…) the right to leave at age 60, or extend the term (contribution Ed), discussions began, it will be the beginning of the confrontation," he warned on France 2, before being received by the Minister of Labour.There is "no question of having to accept one way or another to have to work longer," even "because life expectancy is increasing," the emphasis has hammered the track of increased contributions and the tax issue for example by deleting "some exemptions which have been made in recent years, like the one on capital gains from subsidiaries, representing" 20 billion (euros) in three years, "he said.
• Laurence Parisot (MEDEF): President of the employers' movement said Monday that it was not "continue to resolve the pension issue by a steady increase in contributions" to employers or employees. She however refused to specify what tracks were preferred by the MEDEF before the Board of Retirement Guidance (NRC) does not publish financial simulations expected Wednesday.
• Fran?ois Ch?r?que (CFDT) national secretary of the CFDT has criticized the agenda provided by the government on pensions, considered "too short" for a thorough reform, and reiterated his commitment to retire at age 60. Play on the traditional parameters of risk "to accentuate the existing inequalities in our pension systems," he said, citing "those who started working young, those with heavy work, inequality between men and women and those in precarious paths.The CFDT had hoped "everything on the table and study the various pension systems division that exists in Europe to see that, or those that are most suited" to the French situation.
• FSU: the first union of the state civil service, said in a statement that it would oppose "to further cuts" on pensions. The union, which will be received by April 22 the Minister said that the pension system should allow to "maintain the standard of living" by guaranteeing a pension from 60 years earlier for jobs considered particularly difficult. "Since 2003, reforms have led to severe deterioration and decline of pensions, particularly penalizing women employees who have experienced unemployment, job insecurity, part-time," insists the FSU.According to the union, the Public Service, "the staff had to delay their retirement for six months on average and have seen them at the same time reduce repo rate by 1.5%.
• Jean-Francois Roubaud (CGPME): President of the General Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises (CGPME) said that "it will increase the length of working time" to resolve the pension issue in France and has said hostile to any additional taxation. "I proposed to index on life expectancy, there will be 41 in 2012 and I think that setting 42 years in 2020 seems a measure that could be reasonable.""We know we can not remain in the state where we are and we back into the wall if you do not change anything," he said after a meeting with the Minister.
• Jacques Voisin (CFTC): The chairman of the CFTC has expressed concern over the lack of a government proposal on the issue of new funds for pension schemes, following his meeting with Eric Woerth. "There is nothing, nothing on the issue of funding, nothing on the enlargement of the plate," he said. "We feel that the minister is on its two parameters: age and duration of contributions, and no other parameters in perspective," he said reiterating the CFTC's refusal to touch retirement 60.He called for "broadening the base of funding to capital income" and stock-option.
• Jean-Michel Baylet, president of the Radical Left (PRG) Francois Fillon has asked to "quickly check political parties represented in Parliament to associate them to work" on pensions. "They want reform in particular that allow everyone to have, at the age of retirement, a disposable income at least equivalent to the minimum wage." "As necessary, the guaranteed minimum income will be financed by taxes," he says.
• Beno?t Hamon: The spokesperson of the Socialist Party (PS) has denounced the "taboo of funding" of pensions, calling for a tax on financial income. "Today, there is no single way possible.And the only taboo that exists in that area, it is taboo (…) funding the government refuses broader base of employer contributions, "regretted Mr. Hamon on Europe 1. "If you extend the contribution period and it is very difficult to obtain adequate employment period for a full pension, the immediate consequence is the decline of pensions," he says.