Postal unions in France yesterday called a protest strike for next Tuesday (December 15) tocoincide with the next stage of the French Parliament’s review of the new postal law which is
designed to reform La Poste and prepare for full market opening.The four unions CGT, CFDT, FO and CFTC announced a ‘day of action’, including strikes ‘wherever they are decided’, and will hold a rally outside the National Assembly at 14:00. Followingapproval of the draft postal law in the French Senate (the upper house) last month, the lower housewill start to debate the governmental proposal on that day.
A national strike held on November 24 generated a relatively low turnout by French postalworkers. Only about 15% of La Poste employees took part in the industrial action, according to LaPoste, while the unions claimed a 25-30% participation level.
The Sud-PTT union, in a separate statement, said that in view of the low turnout in Novembera new 24-hour strike on December 15 would not change the situation although it maintained itsopposition to the new postal law.
The new law will transform La Poste into a limited company as of January 1, 2010, with 100%state ownership. Under a subsequent €2.7 billion capital increase, designed to raise financing forstrategic growth, the French government would contribute €1.2 billion and the state-owned Caissedes Dépôts (CDC) a further €1.5 billion. La Poste’s current status as a public organisation (‘établissement public industriel et commercial’) prevents such a capital increase.
