The low level of trade union membership does not reflect the considerable influence wielded by French trade unions on political life and national institutions, since they are involved in the running of joint or tripartite national bodies (jointly run private bodies or bipartite/tripartite public bodies). The trade unions are also directly involved in the running of the national unemployment insurance scheme by their membership of the board of directors of the association (UNEDIC) which is responsible for this scheme. In the same way, the trade unions are present in an advisory capacity in many bodies which play an important role, in particular the Economic and Social Council (Conseil Economique et Social), the National Collective Bargaining Commission (Commission nationale de la négociation collective), the High Committee on Employment (Comité supérieur de l'emploi) and the National Vocational Training Council (Conseil national de la formation professionnelle). Trade unions are also members of the Regional Committee of the National Employment Agency (Agence Nationale pour l'Emploi). Although, formally, trade unions operate only in an advisory capacity, their role, especially in the management of social security, goes far beyond consultation alone.
- Role of trade unions in collective bargaining
In spite of the low level of unionisation, the trade unions are influential in the economic and social spheres and in the area of agreements. This explains the existence of major national collective agreements and of a well developed system of social protection managed jointly with employers.
Collective agreements have risen considerably in number over the past twenty years and now cover some 85-90 % of employees. Agreements which have been extended are published in the "Official Journal".
Moreover, a 1982 Law strengthened the role of the trade unions by introducing an obligation to negotiate collective agreements on a regular basis at sectoral and enterprise level (every year for negotiations on wages and employment in an enterprise/establishment, and every five years for negotiations on job classification).
<http://europa.eu.int/scadplus/citizens/en/fr/010481.htm> *****
-- Yoshie
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