Est. 2min 30-03-2006 (updated: 04-06-2012 ) Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Millions of workers went on strike, on 28 and 29 March 2006, in France, Germany and the UK to protest against labour reforms that the countries’ respective governments deem necessary to create jobs and growth. In France, up to 3 million workers and students protested against the contrat première embauche, which would allow employers to lay off workers under the age of 26 within the first two years of employment without any further explanations given. Germany has seen a series of strikes over the last weeks which were mostly wage-related. Their backdrop, however, are planned labour market reforms such as a raise of the retirement age to 67. The country’s Christian Democrat – Social Democrat coalition is facing its first open internal conflict on the implementation of plans for the easier dismissal of workers, which are similar to the French plans except for the fact that they don’t have any age limitation. Observers say the Merkel government could come under more pressure when the stalemate on these reforms is resolved and there is more public debate on their implementation. In Britain, around 1.5 million public service workers went on strike for the first time in eighty years on 28 March 2006. They protested against a reform of the pension system they claim may leave many vulnerable to poverty during old age. Read more with Euractiv OECD: Taxes are highest in Belgium, Germany and Hungary Tax charges on employment are in excess of 50% in Belgium, Germany Hungary and France. In contrast, the US recorded 29.1% and Korea just 17.3% in a fresh OECD study. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions John Monks, General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC), said the whole European trade union movement supports the campaign of the French unions against the contrat de première embauche. He said: "A unique characteristic of the European Social Model lies in its commitment to consultation with the social partners. In the French case, exactly the opposite has happened: there have been no negotiations.” Ernest-Antoine Seillière, President of UNICE, the European employers' association, said: "The Lisbon Strategy, that was put in place in 2000 to modernise Europe’s economy and that was refocused on growth and jobs last year, is the right strategy. But the reforms to which European leaders committed in previous Summits were not sufficiently delivered. Therefore we broadly support the Commission’s message to the Spring Summit 2006 'the time has now come to deliver on our commitments'. [...] The most important reforms have to come from the national level." BackgroundAs part of the Lisbon strategy, EU member states have agreed to a number of painful measures, such as raising the pension age and introducing greater flexibility in the labour market. As the 2010 deadline for the implementation for these measures nears and unemployment has not dropped significantly in any of the big EU countries, they are facing growing difficulties in communicating these objectives, which now have to be implemented in what little time is left. In countries with a strong tradition of social dialogue, such as France, trade unions feel they should have a say in matters related to labour market reforms. TimelineThe French contrat première embauche should come into effect in April 2006. Trade Unions have announced another day of strikes for 4 April. While the German strike of public service workers has ended, doctors' protests are going on, and metal workers in East Germany have just started their strike. More far-reaching non-sectoral protests are likely to happen when the government comes forward with already planned new dismissal rules. In Britain, protestors have said they will continue actions until the government takes back its project to reform the pension system, which would become effective in October 2006. Further ReadingBusiness & Industry ETUC:The ETUC supports the French trade unions in their struggle against the ’First Employment Contract’(20 March 2006) [FR] UNICE:Speech by Ernest-Antoine Seillière to the Spring European Summit(23 March 2006) Press articles Stratfor:Geopolitical Diary: Protests and Political Impacts in Europe(29 March 2006) AP via MSNBC:EU employment problems dividing continent(29 March 2006) Financial Times:Chirac faces pressure to halt labour bill(29 March 2006) Forbes:French Unions Call for More Jobs Protests(29 March 2006) International Herald Tribune:German strikes come amid signs of rebound(30 March 2006) Deutsche Welle:Metal Workers Join Germany's Strikers(29 March 2006) Bloomberg:German Strikes Spread as Daimler, Siemens Employees Stop Work(29 March 2006) BBC:Pensions strike bites across UK(28 March 2006) Nouvel Observateur:Edition spéciale > CPE(29 March 2006) L'Express:Grèves et manifs le 4 avril(29 March 2006) Edicom:Allemagne: 10'000 ouvriers débrayent en guise d'avertissement(29 March 2006) Financial Times:IG Metall droht mit Streiks nach Ostern(30 March 2006) Reuters:Frankreich vor weiterem landesweiten Streik(29 March 2006)
