These are general assemblies which will decide

After five days of strike, labour must in principle now resume in ports. These are general assemblies which will decide. But, if such is the case, for how long and with what intensity Even the end of this first round, the National Federation of the ports and docks (FNPD), the CGT of dockworkers, originally of the movement, contemplated starting today to return to other forms of action, variable according to the terminals (no overtime, no night vacations, judgments of rotating work...). "Ports will no doubt continue to be blocked in beaded way", was on Sunday on the side of owners of France. The prognosis appears based, the FNPD did not receive at the end of the weekend past the sign of the Government that it was expected Friday.

The origin of the "strong discontent" ce majority Union figure the refusal of the Elysee and Matignon to endorse the hardship incurred in 2008 as part of the negotiations in place of port reform and the development of a new collective agreement. Gathered around a table, the FNPD, the Union of French ports (UPF) and the National Union (Unim) handling industries felt having arrested the outlines of an agreement of branch last October. He was particular to make possible departures in retirement up to four years for 5,000 to 6,000 port agents.

Caught between two fires

The reform of pensions, enacted early last November, came changer. On behalf of, the Government, which fears the effects of contagion, intends to limit to two years the anticipated departures. "It would be ironic that the first agreement on the arduous nature after the pension reform leads to leave employees before 60 years while the legal age will pass to sixty-two years," stated yesterday at the "Echos" Thierry Mariani, Secretary of State for transport.

Its services also emphasize the cost of the deal that war between the social partners: EUR 140 million, supported by seven national ports. "The device a proposed time was support to ports ...". "a financial charge very high for many decades", recognizes Gilles Fournier, President of the Grand Port Maritime of Havre (GPMH). A Unim, were poorly digests the position of the Government, whose attitude is seen as a "challenge to the principle of autonomy of collective bargaining." Xavier Galbrun, delegate general, considers that it is endangering the draft convention collective of port facilities, centrepiece of the reform of 2008. Clearly, the CGT of dockworkers, who eventually enter the game, could not remain there. "This will be much more difficult to make the crane of the dockers", summarizes Xavier Galbrun.

The representatives of shipowners, port authorities and industries handling meet Wednesday to grant their violins to Thierry Mariani, who should receive them later in the day. Among the proposed exit solutions, Unim is ready to discuss of the perimeter of the privacy to which the notion of hardship must be applied.

In the meantime, caught between two fires, some ports see their activity heavily penalized by the conflict. To le Havre, most affected, these five days of a strike led to the cancellation of twenty-six stops of container ships, according to its direction. A situation characterized by Gilles Fournier of "extremely prejudicial to the entire port community, including the dockers and the portiqueurs."