Yet the fate of a company and its employees is at stake

Behind a facade Union opposition, gas frames are mostly for the gas of France-Suez Merger. If we take the floor today, it is to say why we support this merger project which gives rise to many of the controversies. We have defended and defend the interests to long-term employees. This is based on the pursuit of a development group gas of France who has been spectacular in the public sector and that deserves to be pursued by this operation. Still necessary that the debate is clearly asked and that is set aside any ulterior motive that would not have the interest of the company as first motivation.

Initially without a doubt, a misunderstanding: it still confused EDF and gas of France. Although solid in his trade, without alliance strong gas of France cannot survive to term. Thus, when the Act was passed, the commitment of the State do not descend below 70 of participation was fixed mainly to defend the interests of EDF. Everyone or almost knew that this level had no meaning for gas of France and would forge the necessary partnerships its development. But nobody wanted wear this subject and the policy was aligned by easy and implicit "symmetry", as used often in the history of the two companies.

Then, a Committee of business sur-représenté by agents of EDF which can only be negative. In professional elections, one body is elected for the role of Enterprise Committee "common" to the two companies. It is hardly surprising that members of the CGT of EDF refuse changes that allow the emergence of a serious competitor to EDF. It should be noted with amusement that during first calls to strike against the merger, there were more strikers in nuclear power plants in pure gas directions.

A question legitimate: the merger is the only solution Despite the uncertainties, as in any transaction, the arguments for this project show the strength of commercial and industrial complementarities. This is not to insult to gas of France said that, in the field of local government, he has lived until then in the shadow of EDF and Veolia, and that the contributions of Suez would rebalance the balance.

Business people are most concerned by the synergies and do not strike. This is not by chance. Specifically, Suez commercial forces in the energy field are not to the volume of the market that opens in 2007. And commercial agents succeed even better that they will have, in addition to gas, electricity for sale to their customers who want to receive only a single invoice.

The voters voted for the trade unions who wanted the development of a true enterprise project. Thus, the CFE - CGC capitalized 40 of the votes of the frames on a program of development, bearer of identity to gas of France and favourable to the opening of the capital. It was on this occasion, clearly progressed at the expense of the CFDT. The CGT decreased and brought less than 30 of the votes of electors frameworks.

Today, the CFDT is neutral, and the CFE - CGC the IEG in total phase with that of Suez, in a hesitant turnaround is not less than the return to a public pole. It will even refer to Marcel Paul, former Communist Minister, father of the post-war nationalizations, whose ideology is now really implementation.

Managers want to gas of France to fully live his industrial project. They know that the gas has never lived in monopoly and gas of France cannot continue to be managed as EDF.

Debates on trade union representativeness will not change the mode of operation of the trade union organizations. It is so much more comfortable to take refuge in a "status quo" and so much more difficult to negotiate development pathways. It is true that the overcautiousness of policies shown in the example. Yet, the fate of a company and its employees is at stake.