French commerce unions protest against demans for Carrefour to give up 13 hypermarkets

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Unions protest against French government demands on Carrefour to sell 12 or 13 hypermarkets, similar decision is rumored to come in Spain

Uni Commerce affiliates are protesting against plans by the French government to force Carrefour to sell thirteen of its hypermarkets. They think that the government is exaggerating and that the decision will put both jobs and employment conditions in danger.

Note: On 24 May in the morning, the French government stated that it will ask Carrefour to sell a total of eight hypermarkets and 26 smaller supermarkets. The Spanish government decision is expected within a few days.

Earlier this year, the European Commission gave green light to the merger of French retail multinationals Carrefour and Promodes. Doing this, the Commission called on the French and Spanish governments to examine how this affects competition and to take any necessary steps. The total number of hypermarkets concerned in France and Spain could be as high as 25, which the unions believe to be grossly exaggerated.

In its letter to the French government, Uni Commerce affiliate FGTA-FO says that they are worried about the jobs and employment conditions of the Carrefour workers. Both collective agreements and social benefits are good compared with most other commerce enterprises, and these could be adversely affected. Also jobs could be at risk as there is no assurance about how the hypermarkets would continue operating.

At a European seminar on Carrefour, arranged last week in Paris by another Uni Commerce trade union, CFDT Services, the overall situation in the company was discussed. Also the Spanish affiliates in UGT and CCOO were very much concerned as advance reports have indicated that Carrefour may have to cede between ten and fifteen hypermarkets. This would deal a blow to the workers concerned.

Together with the French and Spanish commerce trade unions, Uni Commerce is closely following the developments.

European Works Council

At the same time, a fast process has been launched to merge the European Works Councils of Carrefour and Promodes into a new Carrefour works council. Last week, the final negotiations between Uni-Europa Commerce and the Carrefour management took place in Paris. Agreement was reached on all major points and the proposal will now be sent to the trade unions concerned for their approval. The European Works Council in Carrefour will be based on a social dialogue between the company and the trade unions which represent its workers in different countries.

In addition to the various issues rising from the merger, technological and structural developments will be high up on the agenda of the new works council. Carrefour has joined one of the major Internet exchanges for sourcing and purchasing and is also in other respects in the forefront when adapting new technological innovations.

On a more general level, the Carrefour management has signaled its preparedness to develop the dialogue with Uni and its affiliates. This is now being followed up.