« No question of working on May 1 » for the leader of the CGT, including for voluntary employees – Liberation
Are bread and fresh flowers essential to the French on May 1? Yes, according to two centrist senators, who tabled a bill on Friday 25 April to allow certain businesses, such as bakers or florists, to make their employees work on May 1. Questioned on this subject this Sunday on LCI, the leader of the CGT, Sophie Binet reacted with strength. « No question. There are 364 other days to open ”, she launched. « It is a social conquest and we are here to preserve it »insisted the secretary general of the second union center.
More specifically, the bill, supported by the government in the person of Catherine Vautrin, the Minister of Labor, was filed so that the employees of establishments and services « Whose operation or opening is made necessary by the constraints of production, activity or public needs » May work on May 1.
This initiative intends to respond to the controversy of recent days around bakers, some of which had undergone in 2024 unexpected controls of the labor inspectorate on this traditional public holiday. « I remind you that on May 1, the bosses can work if they wish, but for workers, it is a holiday, it is unemployed, it is a conquered of the struggle »said Sophie Binet.
The union representative refuted the argument that the employees would be voluntary: « It was exactly what we were told on Sunday by telling us, anyway, Sunday is paid double, so we must leave the employees who wish to work on Sunday ». « The result is that we completely liberalized Sunday work (…) and more and more, there are increases of 10 % or no increase at all and even less volunteering ”, she defended.
In contrast, the deputy RN Julien Odoul said that it was necessary « Obviously (…) Change the law because today we need to release work (…), to encourage people to work ». “May 1, it’s the Labor Day, it’s not the party of idleness, it’s not the party of assistantship. Notwithstanding the CGT which wants to send us back to the 19th century ”he said.
