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Presentation

CFDT Rhône-Alpes

Claude VILLECOURT

European Group URI CFDT Rhône Alpes (Villefontaine)

Member of the National Office CFDT Services (Paris) Juridical Commission CFDT Department Rhône (Lyon)

CFDT =Confédération française démocratique de travailFrench Democratic Trade Union

URI =Union Régional InterprofessionnelleRegional Inter-professional Union

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Rhône Alpes

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Rhône Alpes2nd French region:

(10% of the population in 2.878 towns (municipalities )

8 départements :

Ain, Ardèche, Drôme, Isère,

Loire, Rhône, Savoie, Haute Savoie.

dense urban structure

organised around a network of cities :

Lyon, Grenoble, Saint Etienne,

Annecy, Chambéry, Valence, Bourg.

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exceptional natural spaces

The Mont Blanc Mountain and the Rhône River

50% of the classified spaces in France:

6 regional parks: Vercors, Pilat, Bauges, Chartreuse,

Ardèche, High Jura

2 national parks: Ecrins, Vanoise

30 natural reserves.

Rhône Alpes

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The surface of 45 000 square kmcorresponds to the territories of Switzerland, the Netherlands or Belgium.

A dimension that allows to be ranked among the Top Ten European regions.

Rhône Alpes

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A population of 6 millions habitants makes it comparable

to Denmark or to Finland.

GDP 3,5 times

higher than the average GDP of European regions.

Rhône Alpes

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Rhône Alpes

Higher Education:Rhône Alpes has 237 000 students

and has 8 universities and 35 colleges .The region forms including 15% of French engineers

Research and innovation: Among the strengths of research: health, biotechnology,the environment, chemistry and materials, digital technology,physics, nanotechnology and energy.

15 poles of competiveness, 67 certified projects

in France (including 3 world class).

13,2% of deposits of national patents (10th in Europe)

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Working people in Rhône Alpes: 2.310.000 employed(410.000 in public services, 1.900.000 in private enterprises)

67.000 CFDT members(including 6.600 higher services and engineers)

Organised in 144 trade unions (structure of CFDT organised per industry/trade)

The CFDT is on the 2nd rank within the French trade unions’ landscape.

La CFDT en Rhône Alpes

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Trade Union’s experiencesince more than 55 years in the automotive sectorin the period of the 2008/2009 crises

Introduced after the return of temporary workers as a second variable adjustment for the maintenance of the youngest in their jobs and to avoid redundancy plans during this period…

2 devices in place:

- Early retirement- Conventional break

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Cessation anticipée d'activité

Principle: Suspension of employment contract up to 60 months before starting normal retirement

• Payment of a monthly allowance (approximately 70% of final salary)

• Company continues to make contributionsduring that period the pension on final salary.

• Immediate advance paymentof 90% of the premium retirement.

• Acquisition of possible missing quarters (periods)

This device concerns workers of the age of 55, 56, 57.

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Conventional breakThis new system of conventional break(subject to approval by the Employment Authorities)allowed companies to abandon social plans for employees close to retirement: age 58-59

Principle: breaking the employment contract by mutual agreement

• Choice of departure date• Payment to the date of termination

of premium conventional dismissal• The employee is covered by unemployment

insurance until his retirement (max. 2 years)

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Trade Union’s experiencesince more than 55 years in the automotive sectorin the period of the 2008/2009 crises

These 2 devices have been of interest for the empoyedworkers over 55 years or because of being accompanied byrestructuring plans or in case of real loss of the workplace (loss of confidence in the company, uncertaintiesabout the results of the crisis and the future of the pensions).

But before a real end of the crises the social plans risk to be all implemented in 2010.

The French government tries to implementation ofthese devices by taxing the leave of over 55 workers.