One hundred days after his inauguration, Mariano Rajoy faces Thursday its first general strike in Spain. "Hundred Days, hardly!" Are offended tenors of the Popular Party (PP, right), the formation of the head of government. "The strike, finally!" Meet the basics of trade unions, eager to do battle. For the past three months, government and workers' representatives to look into daggers.

In recent weeks, Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and the Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT), the two largest unions in the country, have organized two events before calling a general strike. The leaders admitted bluntly: it was first to count.

In the crosshairs of unions, labor market reform, adopted by decree on February 9 and described as "extremely aggressive" … by the minister of the economy itself!

Javier Doz, Head of International Relations of CCOO, summarizes the two main objections to the reform: "First, this law flexibilized layoffs and cuts costs. Second, it greatly weakens collective bargaining. "The government says it is to encourage hiring by offering less restrictive labor contracts. The argument is scanned by Doz: "Since the adoption of the decree, unemployment has continued to grow."

"A stroke of genius!"

The executive, in turn, paved the way. A short sentence illustrates this perfectly. It was in Brussels on 31 January. Mariano Rajoy attended his first European Council. Prior to opening the meeting, he met with his Finnish counterpart and brags: "The reform of labor law will cost me a general strike!" Rajoy then displays a satisfied smile. Barely a month after taking office, the standoff between the government and unions had already begun.

"A stroke of genius!" Can not help admiring Pablo López Calle, professor of sociology of work at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. "It's Rajoy himself who called a general strike! It presents the mobilization as a sign of his political identity, "he decrypts. Proof of its determination, in short.

For unions, in any case, the day will be a test. In a country affected by an unemployment rate of 23%, fear of losing his job well anesthesia claims. For several weeks, unions must also defuse a series of controversies echoed by the conservative press. A leader of UGT, for example, was accused of receiving tens of thousands of dollars from the Caja Madrid, a savings bank the largest in the country. In reality, the money is paid to each member of the Board and shall be returned to the union. "This is a campaign to discredit us," considers Doz, denouncing "personal insults".

The challenges of Spain

Mistrust vis-à-vis trade unions, however, goes beyond the usual political divisions. During the demonstration on 19 February, for example, indignant movement of May 15 had joined the workers' representatives. But these indignados had organized their own parade. "Thanks for coming!" They sang at the CCOO and UGT. One way to criticize the supposed slowness of their response. "¡No representan our" ("They do not represent us!") Cried others, usually reserved for a political slogan.

Conversely, unions are wary of calls from the foot of the Socialist Party (PSOE). The leader of the PSOE, Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, does not hide his strategy: "The PP has shown with the bishops (an allusion to the protests against gay marriage or abortion), we, we demonstrate with the unions." These latter, however, still marked by the austerity measures of José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the Socialist prime minister post. "In recent events, says Lopez, union leaders have done everything to prevent the Socialists are at the forefront." The Socialists, requinqués by an unexpected election victory last Sunday in Andalusia, intend to transform the test.

Beyond the likely battle between unions and government figures, the point lies elsewhere. Condenses into a general strike the next day challenges of Spain. On the one hand, the government Rajoy wants to kill the rebellion in the bud, establish his austerity program and ensure social peace by force of his majority. The other, the parliamentary opposition and trade union seeks to rise from the ashes.

]]> http://ecopolhome.com/mariano-rajoy-faces-its-first-general-strike/feed/ 0 http://ecopolhome.com/sncf-offers-its-customers-a-guaranteed-trip/ http://ecopolhome.com/sncf-offers-its-customers-a-guaranteed-trip/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:40:09 +0000 admin http://ecopolhome.com/sncf-offers-its-customers-a-guaranteed-trip/  

SNCF is mobilizing to appease the discontent of its users. It has just six new commitments, collectively called "guaranteed trip", to improve the service provided to them. Applicable on March 31 and the TGV intercity trains, the new device, designed with consumer groups, will have a budget of 50 million euros.

The "guarantee travel" includes minimizing the impact of the delays complained of increasingly frequent travelers. In case of delay of over an hour and whatever the cause, the SNCF is committed to providing its passengers two options: either full and immediate refund of the return ticket, or can borrow another train at the same price within 48 hours. In the event of contingencies, the SNCF to fund those it has not been resolved transport travel by taxi or a hotel room.  

History of punctuality

The railway company will also make an effort in terms of information. To help customers make their transport choices knowingly, the site will release a historic infolignes.com punctuality of trains and intercity TGV last 60 days. The exact cause delays of more than 15 minutes will also be shown the next day on the internet.

In an interview in Le Parisien – Aujourd'hui en France, the CEO of SNCF Voyages, Barbara Dalibard, said that more work will be provided to inform travelers of their late train, by SMS or email. For this, 30,000 field workers will be equipped with smartphones that will allow them to trace information more easily.

A new "guaranteed seat" finally improve the service offered to passengers overbooked. The skipper will help them find a place, and if necessary outperform the first class. If no seat is still available, the station will offer the customer who had to make his journey standing financial compensation "in the form of travel vouchers of 10 €, 20 € or 30 €.

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This is the season ranking of "best companies"! Wednesday the companies in which to work were rewarded by the Great Place To Work Institute, PepsiCo and Octo Technology plebiscite. Thursday night, the third edition of "Randstad Awards", organized by the working group and temporary recruitment of the same name, has honored the attractiveness of employers to the general public.

The surprise of the Top 20 "images employer" is not so much the identity of the winner, Eurocopter (EADS subsidiary), already No. 1 last year, the criteria that determined the choice of 12,000 respondents and 224 companies that tie in the race.

Compensation in effect makes a comeback in the criteria put forward by the French. She even takes the top spot with 71% response rate, the highest level since the beginning of the study in France, when she held the third position for two. Sign that the issue of purchasing power is becoming more and more in the public and among employees, it is women who put most clearly in the lead compensation criteria of attractiveness.

Aeronautics and media are reversible

The working environment (63%) and job security (54%) are respectively second and third place in respondents' answers, while questions about why companies are investing heavily in time, money and action, seem much more secondary to the general public, be it social responsibility (11%), the diversity policy (10%) or training (16%). As for the interest of jobs or good-life balance working life, are arguments also down this year in the concerns of public opinion payday loans.

Among the sectors that are most dreaming and the French in which they would one day work, aviation retains its pole position with 46% in favor, before the media (40%) and consumer goods industries (36% ). Probably related to the news she had experienced particularly negative in 2011 with the affairs of the Mediator or PIP prostheses, the pharmaceutical industry is one of four diving places and suffers from an image somewhat degraded.

If the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter continues to lead the ranking of top 20 "Randstad Awards" behind several changes occur. Airbus assumes the second step of the podium, with a gain of four seats, followed by EDF winning eight seats. They succeed Canal + (ranked 8th in the ranking this year) and Thales (16th, down from thirteen seats).

Some companies make good growth, a sign of their appeal to the French, like the SNCF (7th, up 6 places), STMicroelectronics, which jumped 32 places in 18th position, or Safran ranked for the first time this year (19th).

But others simply disappeared from radar Randstad, like Club Med, Sanofi-or Air France-KLM (the company had received an award in 2009). "Even in times of crisis, you have to seduce, to attract and retain the best, in this continuity," Analysis Beharel Francis, president of Randstad in France. In other words, do not ease off on the analysis of its attraction: this must be the watchword for companies, even when unemployment soaring and that candidates are not lacking.

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• Nicolas Sarkozy wants to pay the tax exiles

Incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy lashed out at tax exiles Monday night on TF1, the Word of candidate issue, by proposing the creation of "a tax related to nationality," a system "used by the Americans." "Anyone who left France for not paying taxes will make known to the administration the amount of taxes it pays abroad. If it is lower than it would have paid in France, he will pay the difference, "he explained, saying" particularly outrageous "the" category "French people who practice the tax exile.

"The tax exile, is the one who wants to remain French nationality but who do not want to stay in France for taxation. I have all the advantages but no problem! "He insisted. Before warning: "Well, they'll get a surprise."

The spokesman of the president candidate, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, told AFP he would not make "the deprivation of nationality." "If he does not pay, he is pursued by the taxman. (…) However, if he wants to escape measurement, it is of course free to take another nationality, "she added.

However, Nicolas Sarkozy does not want to "touch the expatriate tax status" for professional reasons. "There are two million French people living abroad who are fighting, which conquer markets", he chained, also referring to officials posted abroad. "These French, I do not want anyone to touch anything in their fiscal and legal status. In anything, "he proclaimed.

• a sytème sponsorship by citizens

Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that he would introduce a system of sponsorship by citizens during the next presidential election if re-elected in May. He had recently discussed a figure of about 3% of the electorate.

On the National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, he wished she managed to collect 500 of sponsorships elected him to run for president, adding that if she had not, it would be "a problem ". "Clearly, I want it to have its sponsorship," said the outgoing president.

"I have long thought that people who vote for the National Front vote for this party, not because they believe in their solutions – they have none – but because it is a cry of anger, c ' is suffering, it is an anxiety, "he said paydayloans. He said that "we do not begrudge people their anguish and suffering, I am simply saying to voters that voting for the National Front is a complete impasse. By voting for the National Front, they encourage one thing, as always, the victory of the socialist candidate. "

• Sarkozy sweeps rumors of funding by Gaddafi in 2007

Asked about the website Mediapart whereby Muammar Gaddafi would have funded his 2007 campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy said that "if he had funded I would not have been very grateful," adding sarcastically that the son of former Libyan leader was probably a "moral compass". In March 2011, at the beginning of military intervention led by France and the United Kingdom in Libya, Seif al-Islam had challenged Nicolas Sarkozy in an interview with Euronews.

"Mr. Gaddafi, who is known to say anything, had even said that there were checks, and although his son's place. When quoting Gaddafi who died and his son who has blood on his hands, and that associated himself with the questions he asked, frankly I think it is fairly low in the political debate, " Nicolas Sarkozy deplored.

• "No load without revenue" for artisans

Artisans will no longer pay payroll taxes as they will not realize revenue, announced on TF1 President Nicolas Sarkozy. "The artisans will be treated exactly like the auto-entrepreneur: you only pay charges that the minute you get a turnover," said the presidential candidate, in response to a question from a craftsman.  

• Lifting of military secrecy in the matter Karachi

Nicolas Sarkozy said he was ready to lift the secrecy-defense in the case of Karachi, while his rival Socialists, Francois Hollande, pledged on Monday to lift it during a meeting at his campaign headquarters with relatives victims of the attack. "I have nothing to hide or even remotely. I am for transparency, "assured the president candidate.

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One of two blast furnaces Site Florange ArcelorMittal, stopped for two months, should eventually go back soon. According to Nicolas Sarkozy, invited this Thursday morning France Inter, the steel group had decided to resume its activity in the second half of 2012. "Florange is 2667 employees including 500 in a situation of losing their jobs" if the second blast furnace will not restart, said the head of state.

The Chairman of ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Mittal, Nicolas Sarkozy met yesterday for "a long working meeting," would also committed $ 17 million in Florange, two million for the restart of the site and 15 million for its modernization. "Seven million euros will be invested in a new gasometer and eight million to develop new products in Florange, for without going into detail, the auto market," said Nicolas Sarkozy. ArcelorMittal has confirmed this information in the morning, however, suggesting that restart "from the perspective of an economic recovery."

Chain liquid always threatened

The Indian group has repeatedly in recent weeks that the closure of the Florange was only temporary, and will ensure "maintaining activity in Lorraine." In a context of declining demand for steel, the group's director in France, Hervé Bourrier, however, lamented last week that the Florange site is less efficient than those of Fos or Dunkirk. And stated that even if you restart the site in the coming months whether to continue or not the activity would be reviewed each quarter, "depending on the backlog."

The new announcement leaves employees skeptical. "Nicolas Sarkozy announces investment for cockerie, which feeds the Dunkirk site, and for automotive production. But these two pathways are not endangered, unlike the liquid stream, "says Patrick Auzanneau CFDT union delegate. Questioned by AFP, MP PS Moselle, Michel Liebgott, advanced further than the two million investment announced for restarting the blast furnace were already known. "They were negotiated by the state in compensation it pays partial unemployment since the beginning of the year," said MP.

Ulcos project

The announcement last week of a state investment of 150 million euros was not better received. "This is something that has already been said for months, it's related to Ulcos project", explained to AFP Wednesday an official of the CFDT. The salvation for over 2600 employees, however, could come from this project, whose objective is to produce steel with less CO2. With a total cost of around 600 million euros, its viability depends on the decision of the European Commission for its funding. Arbitration should not take place before September.

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The absolute independence of the European Central Bank vis-à-vis the policy preventing him from speaking. Mario Draghi has openly acknowledged Thursday: "I received a few minutes ago a call from the Greek prime minister said an agreement had been reached and endorsed by the major parties," said President of the ECB at its monthly press conference in Frankfurt. Thus he was able to announce before everyone else – maybe a little too quickly, given the float that followed in Athens – the good news entrusted to him by Lucas Papademos, the former vice President of the ECB.

But, according to the principle that it is easier to comment on the affairs of others than on his own, he refused to say clearly that the ECB may decide to reduce the debt of Athens, parallel commercial banks: "We are not part of negotiations. But what we hear is that the parts are pretty close to agreement. "

"Prohibited by the European treaties"

Pressed with questions, the successor to Jean-Claude Trichet ended up giving the key to participation of the ECB program "voluntary" Burden Reduction. "If the ECB redistributes some of its profits to the Member States of the ECB … it's not on monetary financing (public debt, which is prohibited by the European treaties), "he dropped. Clearly, it confirms one of the options that have been circulating for a week: the ECB could leave the unrealized gains on its purchase of Greek bonds. Which is approximately 12 billion, knowing that the bonds were acquired on the market at a discount and would be repaid at their face value at maturity.

By hiding again behind the texts prohibiting the bailout States, Mario Draghi shows the difficulty of his task. "The time is long when monetary policy was limited to setting interest rates. Since the debt crisis, the ECB must navigate waters very political, "says economist of a major French bank.

Inflation above the 2%

Monetary field itself, new relaxations are in any case by no means excluded. "Inflation should remain above 2% during the next few months, before falling back below 2%," said Mario Draghi. He worries more than ever a dry supply of bank credit: "We are actually concerned about the slowdown in the credit."

This is why the Governing Council decided to relax the rules on eligibility of collateral (securities pledged as collateral) that commercial banks have to raise cash. These conditions are changed to "temporarily" for seven national central banks, including Bank of France. "Residential real estate loans to individuals are eligible," said a statement released Thursday afternoon in Paris, which lists the technical conditions.

On a neighbor, Mario Draghi provides that the next issue of liquidity to three years, to be held on February 29, could be done "over the range of the previous operation of this type." The banks had obtained, 22 December 2011, 489 billion and 1% over three years.

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• President Sarkozy does not want to copy Germany

Nicolas Sarkozy reaffirmed the importance of a strong Franco-German axis. "If Europe is strong today is because Germany and France have made compromises," the president said in an interview with Angela Merkel crossed, broadcast Monday night on France 2 and German TV ZDF. "Germany has made compromises on the government economic and France on budgetary discipline," he added.

"There is no question of copying the German model but converge to it. It is important to build on what is happening outside: we envy Germany in its ability to gain share of the export market, and Germany want our social model. "Criticized for its excesses rigor at the expense of growth, Merkel said simply: "It is harmful to oppose fiscal discipline and growth. The fiscal pact not against growth, "she said.

• Nicolas Sarkozy's admiration and friendship for Chancellor

Answering the question of his relationship with the German chancellor, the president told his feelings: "Yes I have admiration for someone who leads 80 million Germans during the crisis (…) yes I have an affection for her, "he said, insisting that he and Angela Merkel" N (s) here to (their) duty. "

• Angela Merkel supports political Nicolas Sarkozy

Monday morning, the German Chancellor has supported political candidate – not reported – for president Nicolas Sarkozy at the 14th Council of Ministers Franco-German payday loans with no fax.

In the evening, during this interview, she explained: "I support Nicolas Sarkozy on all levels because we belong to parties friendly." Merkel said that the French president had come to also support by participating in 2009 to one of his rallies in Berlin, a few months before his reappointment as head of the German government.

Asked about whether she will receive the socialist candidate for president Francois Hollande, Merkel said that "there is nothing to (was) decided yet." "Mr. Steinmeier [Social Democratic candidate for chancellor in 2009] had not been received in France," she said, adding: "We have other problems to solve."

• Nicolas Sarkozy defends Claude Gueant

"It's a ridiculous controversy," said Monday the head of the French state on the wave of indignant reactions provoked by the remarks of his interior minister, Claude Gueant, who said Saturday that "all civilizations are equal. " "The interior minister said that a civilization, a scheme, a company that did not grant the same place and same rights for men and women, it did not have the same values. It's common sense, "he said. "If we want to not argue, it would save us much time to lose," added Nicolas Sarkozy.

Eagerly awaited the release of the envelope is part of the plan of 110 billion euros agreed in May 2010.This decision allows especially on track to the second rescue plan prepared in late October, to be finalized between the Greek Government and private creditors in early 2012 best payday advance.

A sign of confidence

For the new Greek government, this decision is also similar to a pledge of confidence in the euro area for the implementation of austerity measures which the aid was conditional. Athens has also worked hard ahead of the meeting date. In a statement released this afternoon, Evangelos Venizelos, Greek Minister of Finance, has assured that "all the necessary conditions" for the new aid program had been met.

It must be said that the release of the tranche was delayed several times.

With his experience of eight years at the head of the institution, who was also governor of the Banque de France, has recommended that Europeans hear the messages addressed to them. His advice? First, be "extra vigilant" with regard to public finances. Rejecting the idea that the euro area and its currency are "threatened" by the crisis, it nevertheless stated that "all countries without exception must be extremely careful." "Protect yourself rather than cure," he summarized, adding that "it depends on us that we can have the least slower growth."

Then you have to "think about the future," stressed the President of the ECB. "Tomorrow, I think we need to change the treaty to be able to prevent a member of the euro area to roam and create problems for everyone else," he said, referring to the Greek crisis that Europe in a hard to control cashadvance. He called for a reform that would make the European Council "able to impose decisions" in a country slide, with "possible sanctions".

It includes some of the "outraged"

"We must strengthen the management and governance of globalization in all fields," he also said in reacting to the movement of indignation that spreads in several major cities."There are obviously a number of lessons from the crisis that the lessons are harsh: it is not possible to leave a financial system and consequently a global economic system that is as fragile." This does not mean "demolish" the banks, he insisted, recalling that "pay three-quarters of the economy."

That he referred to as de-globalization theme is in vogue right now, as advocated by the Socialist-Arnaud Montebourg, and one can imagine Jean-Claude Trichet tense in his chair … and find that it is a call to strengthening of global economic governance.