(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #229 - Dismissals: To veto the councils (fr)

Cope with redundancies, Partners Industry has initiated a campaign to veto works councils 
on this issue. A claim that draws prospects. ---- Recent months have handed out several 
claims against redundancies. Political organizations, associations or groups, trade 
unions, each advanced his "solution." Remember first of all that there can be no single 
answer. The immediate demands are meaningless unless they are backed by a struggle for a 
total transformation of the company, except to confine themselves to poverty and social 
crisis rather than fight. However, to achieve the expropriation of the employers and 
impose egalitarian redistribution of wealth, we need to draw the transitional 
opportunities that enable to get there. ---- In the meantime, there are two categories of 
claims, with the landmark as "economic", which is the rationale for companies to justify 
dismissal.

If they lay off, is that they have no choice, and play everything on this point for some. 
According to them, it should be banned, it is the dismissal "stock" ... Missed! The case 
law has largely banned since business can not dismiss to increase profits - at least it 
should give other reasons, even if it is hidden reason.

Different options

It has, on one side, those who want to ban layoffs in companies that make profits on the 
other those who want to ban all short redundancies. Between the two, little connection, 
the first not seeing their claim as a step but as an end. Limited to companies that make 
profits is to underestimate the complexity of accounting, financial and legal 
arrangements, but also the decision-making power of the employer on the use of money in 
the business. It is also a tactical error, as it further justify further layoffs: the 
employee-es, therefore, to pay for the rules of a game they have not accepted. Last 
debate, there must be a law? Appeal to the state to regulate social relations?

Alternative

There is now an alternative to reach a collective veto works council (EC), on the 
initiative of Industry Partners. Require new rights for employees and their 
representatives, are in a self-management perspective to regain control of his daily 
choices and his company, this is the way it should be supported, recalling the predominant 
role of trade unions. Those who decide to work. More than thirty years after the Auroux 
laws [ 1 ], to fight in unity to restore the power and tools to employees es gives voice 
and do not deprive of their means of action in everyday life. Veto the EC, as the first 
step of a veto employee-es, is a significant element in building a relationship of forces, 
which he will give echo to get to weigh in an optical transformation of society.

RobertK (AL Montreuil)

[ 1 ] Four laws enacted in 1982 that, while not revolutionary, brought many positive 
changes for workers, especially in terms of representation and expression in business.