L’Édito de Cyril Chabanier, président de la CFTC
Our country, and especially its “politico-media” microcosm, has this amazing ability to be passionate about topics that suddenly emerge like trends. It only takes a spark to trigger a mechanism of mimicry where the accessory overshadows the essential. These heated debates, which saturate the auditory and visual space for a few days, represent only a tiny part of the deep challenges we face.
The 1st of May perfectly illustrates this annoying habit. A parliamentary debate turned into a showdown over a bill aiming to broaden exemptions to mandatory rest starting in 2026. While the Minister of Labour ultimately abandoned this reform for the year 2026, the government, however, postponed the issue to 2027, leaving certain branches with the decision for now. Thus, social partners in the bakery-pastry and floral art artisan sectors could, by agreement, join the so-called “absolute necessity” categories (hospitals, firefighters, transportation, etc.) already authorized to exempt from rest on May 1st.
This downward revision of government ambition owes much to consultations with trade unions, especially the CFTC! We were heard and achieved a reduction in the number of sectors concerned. Above all, as everyone knows, the opening of branch negotiations does not necessarily mean agreements will be made allowing employees to work on May 1st.
Without wanting to replace the CFTC branch negotiators, I will reiterate the position I defended during this showdown: we refuse this “domino effect” that would lead to a generalization of work on May 1st. This day must retain its exceptional and symbolic nature. The defense of collective sanctified rest is at the heart of our vision of the “value of work”: for work to be recognized at its true value, it must necessarily be accompanied by guaranteed disconnection and social life for everyone!
I would also like to add that the economic arguments put forward do not hold up under analysis. If we must yield to “politico-media” trends, let us prefer the essential over the accessory. Two figures should catch our attention as they pose a real threat to growth and employment: 500,000 business leaders, employing over 3 million employees, will have to pass on the torch in the coming ten years.
Instead of wanting to “help out” a consumer of a baguette or bouquet for one day a year, the Government and social partners would do better, for the other 364 days, by removing barriers to business succession! By facilitating mechanisms that allow employees to take over their own work tools and, in turn, save their jobs.
