The success of movements in the storage and terminals 4

Cuts in gas and electricity, blocking access to the site of the Flamanville (Manche) nuclear reactor, the Toulouse-Blagnac Airport... Employees of EDF and GDF Suez have multiplied the actions yesterday in a new day of action on wages in the two parent companies and subsidiaries of respective distribution, ErDF and GrDF. party to last, the conflict reached a new milestone with the entry in the movement of nuclear activities. According to the CGT, the country's production capacity has been lowered of 6,100 MW.

Some 66.500 people were deprived of electricity "at one time or another" of the day, indicated the direction of ErDF. Approximately 9,000 homes suffered cuts natural gas yesterday, mainly in the Ile-de-France, adds GrDF. In total, the directions of the two distribution subsidiaries believe that 18 of their employees were on strike yesterday.

The five main unions (CGT, CFDT, CGC, CFTC, FO) sector are demanding a 5 increase and a bonus of 1,500 euros. "It will bleed them," intended yesterday afternoon instead of the stock exchange, where about 200 demonstrators gathered at the call of the CGT.

Far from harmless, this conflict marks a shift in history for the energy sector because it broke with the social model in place. "It is a whole system is collapsing," said Marie-Hélène Gourdin, Federal Secretary Federation chemistry-energy CFDT. "With this social conflict, we are experiencing a historic step." "We are witnessing the collapse of the system of electric and gas industries as there was so far", adds Vincent Hernandez, Force ouvrière.

"The model is to transform, nuance's Vice President of the Union of employers of the gas industry (Unemig), Michel Astruc." "On the issue of wages, we are witnessing a highlighting of growing business strategies". More frontal compete, EDF and GDF Suez do more agree on wages in the sector. Their conflict is fly shattered the social model in place.

The risk to create "niches".

First, the differences between the two groups have complicated the domestic negotiations, which are at a standstill. At the time, unions have decided to carry out actions directly in companies, to obtain individual increases in "widespread". Social conflict began in March in the LNG terminals and gas storage sites, before expanding subsidiaries more increasingly important as GRTgaz (2.700 employees) or ErDF and GrDF (46,000 employees in total). The success of movements in the storage and terminals (4.5 wage increases and a premium of 1,300 euros) made lever.

Only concern: in the medium term, this strategy will accentuate the differences between employees and create "niches" where no one will want to move. These agreements also draw a line under a possible signature at the domestic level. On 8 April, ten for example signed with the CFDT and GSC agreement resulting in a bonus of 1,500 euros and a broadening of the number of employees affected by the individual increases. To accept this, RTE has relied on the fact that the General increase in the industry will be limited to 0.3, the proposal of the labour unions. Which now reduces the flexibility of the employers ' organisation on a possible resumption of negotiations of branch.