Strike call for the SNCF

Auto Date Saturday, May 18th, 2013

 

This would be the second single strike at the SNCF since the election of François Hollande. The four organizations representing the public company (CGT, UNSA, SOUTH CFDT) on Friday filed a request for an immediate consultation. A mandatory procedure before filing a notice of strike. However, Les Echos reported that Saturday1, "at the beginning, they had already announced in a joint leaflet an" action all services unit in June 2013. " Which suggests that the strike will be held Thursday, June 13, 2013.

The unions want to denounce the railway reform and problems purchasing power rail can be read on the website of France Info2. The movement would be followed as the previous, say unions, who find that "the malaise goes."

Society and the state are in full reflection to improve the operational efficiency of the French railway system and eliminate its debt. Two reports on the subject were made in April 3: they both offer a return of all the orders of the State SNCF4 cash advance. A bill will be introduced in a few months.

Meanwhile, in March, the company announced that the railway will make between 1.5 and 2 billion in savings over the next five years. Which in addition to a plan to reduce costs of purchasing, IT spending … 700 million by 2015 already announced a few months ago.

An uncertain 2013 for SNCF

For the year 2012, the SNCF has posted "satisfactory" results in his boss Guillaume Pepy, who has renewed his mandat5 at the head of the company railways for five years. In 2012, the turnover of the Group increased by 3% compared with 2011 to € 33.8 billion. Better, its net profit tripled to EUR 383 million. And debt decreased by EUR 1 billion to 7.3 billion.

Nevertheless, the year 2013 will be difficult with large work Ile-de-France that will disrupt the quality of service, the economy still fragile and budget authorities, including those allocated to transport, which still suffer the crisis of public finances in France and Europe.

Canada: the bubble deflates growth

Auto Date Saturday, March 2nd, 2013

 

Seen from Europe, it is still a great performance. Canada ends 2012 on a GDP growth of 1.8%, but shows a sharp slowdown at the end of the year. In the last quarter, GDP grew by only 0.2% compared to the previous three months. Above all, it shows a worse performance than its big brother U.S. (+2.2% in 2012), while in recent years, it is rather the Canadian economy that held the rope.

In fact, the country is a model at European level, that of a well-run country, which has imposed a diet and the necessary reforms in the 1990s. It has not been the financial storm of 2008 with the same intensity as the United States, thanks to the strength and the wisdom of its banks. Subprime loans have never weighed more than 5% of appropriations. Another asset of the country rich in natural resources, mining, oil and gas, has benefited from the surge in commodity prices, boosted by Chinese demand. Where exports account for nearly 35% of GDP.

Sharp increase in household debt

Nevertheless, after a few years at full speed also made by consumer spending, the engine is now Canadian landing. "In 2012, there is a double impact of a decline in public investment of 5.6% and a lower business investment, especially in the productive sector, which suffers from a lower external demand and a lack productivity, "Inna Mufteeva analysis, economist at Natixis. Added to this are the measures taken by the authorities to reduce household debt has reached crisis level. In ten years, it has increased by 50% to 150% of disposable income, and exceeds that of Americans.

As for interest rates very low, improvement of the labor market, which has quickly regained its pre-crisis level with an unemployment rate of 7.3% and banks less frowning on the Granting loans, real estate loans have increased significantly. They now represent 64% of total debt. Moreover, because of their exposure to the property sector, Moody's and Standard and Poor's have downgraded the bank. The spectrum of a real estate bubble fueled by rising prices in recent years concern the central bank and the government, which has notably reduced the life of the loan. "The risks are concentrated in major cities of Toronto and Vancouver," relativizes Christopher Ragan, an economist at McGill University.

Controversial pipeline

This raises another expert structural fragility of the country, economic interests which differ between provinces. When the highly industrial Ontario depends mainly on exports in the productive sector – which has suffered in recent months the Canadian dollar – Alberta rich in raw materials instead saw its oil sands.

This key sector of the energy, the challenge in the medium and long term will increase exports, constraints today by congestion problems. Canada would develop new pipelines to the United States but also to grant access on the Pacific coast. But these projects, including Keystone, which must reach Texas, are highly controversial for environmental reasons.

Problem of the rich, say the most optimistic. Canada sits on solid financial fundamentals, with a public debt of 35% of GDP and a small deficit in 2012 to 1.5% of GDP. What restart the machine if necessary.

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The diesel returns bar € 1.40

Auto Date Tuesday, January 29th, 2013

 

Diesel just board the symbolic € 1.40. According to the website dedicated Carbeo.com, it reached 1.403 euro Monday on average, up 4.3 cents since the beginning of the year.

Unleaded gasoline is not left out: last week, the increase was 1.2 cents per liter on average. The unleaded 98 average now stands at 1.62 euro per liter, while unleaded 95 points to 1.582 euro. It is now four consecutive weeks as fuel prices rise.

Oil prices remain relatively high

This rise coincides with the phasing out of government scheme aimed at reducing – temporarily – taxes on petroleum products. Only – Slim – consolation: "Average prices currently observed in France are still below prices August 28, then 6 cents higher for diesel and 7 cents for gasoline," says Carbeo personal business card.com.

For their part, oil prices remain relatively high: Brent crude in London is firmly established above the $ 110 mark, while in New York a barrel of light crude oil exceeds $ 96. This environment that the price at the pump for motorists French do not seem to observe a near lull.

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William and Kate looking for a nanny

Auto Date Wednesday, January 16th, 2013

 

This is an ad that will attract a multitude of applications. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are looking for a nanny for their future royal residence. Kate Middleton, who will give birth in July, and Prince William are looking for an employee to household chores in their appartemment Kensington Palace. The British newspaper Sunday Express revealed that Buckingham Palace has released this job for the couple.

The offer stipulates that the steward should "ensure that all parts are clean" and will "clean uniforms of other employees" working for Kate and William. "The attention to detail, with a proactive and flexible approach is essential" criteria are necessary, said the announcement. Steward the future work 37 hours per week, but must be available for overtime. The couple are expecting candidates to be "able to demonstrate strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills both verbal and written and the ability to work on themselves, and as part of a multidisciplinary team." Very committed to respect for his private life, the couple requires that the person hired to show "discretion, loyalty and reliability" to the family.

This announcement comes after the recruitment of a French army corporal to support Prince William daily. This leads to the ceremonies in which the prince attends, takes care of the logistics of residence and William wardrobe.

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Soubie welcomes "good agreement" on the labor market

Auto Date Monday, January 14th, 2013

 

LE FIGARO. – What is your view on the draft agreement reached by the social partners?

RAYMOND SOUBIE. – This is undoubtedly. I always thought that was more effective social law after a successful negotiation, and this is the case. Negotiators had the courage to move forward on difficult subjects in a social and economic environment deteriorated sharply. The themes, some of which are in the landscape for years, are many and can only be welcomed.

Can we therefore speak of a "historic compromise"?

Avoid big words. The French labor market suffers from two major shortcomings: young people struggling to find employment and an employee who loses his remaining unemployed longer than elsewhere in Europe. The draft agreement only partially meets this problem. While employees enjoy new rights (generalization of the complementary health supervision of part-time, human rechargeable …) but do not establish a continuum of career. In the end, the negotiated text does not solve everything for employees even if it has some real progress. The companies received in return for greater flexibility and legal certainty, greater opportunities for their mobility operations or maintenance agreements in employment. The unions are preparing to accept the draft agreement also believe that greater flexibility will create jobs that challenge FO and CGT will refuse to ratify the text mainly for this reason.

Do you think this agreement will create jobs?

We will not know until later because the flexibility for companies is not the only problem data. Especially as it will depend on the interpretation of the behavior of judges, administrative will vote on the approval of plans to safeguard employment, and also legal. Jurisprudential developments will be numerous and it is only after that we can assess the exact scope of this reform.

Can contribute to a return to growth?

In part, but the international environment and the confidence that companies have in government policy, will be essential.

What is the reaction of firms and financial markets?

Companies and financial markets are well advanced in terms of flexibility, but they can not know the exact scope today for all the reasons I mentioned low interest rate personal loans. The text reached by the partners is ultimately a great bet on the future that no one can say at this stage, at which point it will pay or not.

Which are immediate winners?

It is in any case a clear victory for Laurence Parisot, as Patrick Bernasconi, the "leader" of the employers' delegation which was to maneuver. This is a great victory also Lawrence Berger, the new secretary general of the CFDT, who could not afford to begin his tenure with a failure of this negotiation is in the DNA of the organization. The government also released reinforced this positive outcome because it would have had great difficulty in passing social legislation as complex and wide without relying on an agreement. However, SF is not, as they say, marginalized and is ready to assume its full responsibilities in future negotiations, such as those on supplementary pensions.

Is not it also a victory for social dialogue, which contrasts with the memories left by years of President Sarkozy?

Seriously: it is not made with the agreement of the darkness into the light! We forget too quickly the social agendas set each year with unions and employers as well as all the agreements concluded by the social partners, and some unanimously in the previous legislature. The January 2008 agreement on the labor market at the time signed by FO, which was established including breaking conventional wearing course on a smaller scope but has benefited from more than a million employees. Do not forget the agreements on trade union representation and professional training. Today's text is larger, more complex, more difficult to decipher and effects more uncertain in its scope. The referee of its usefulness, I repeat, will the growth. If she leaves, then we can say – probably rightly – that there will be contributed.

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Virgin will file for bankruptcy tomorrow

Auto Date Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

 

Considered the possibility Friday is now confirmed. The direction of Virgin Megastore said Tuesday morning that it will file the results tomorrow before the Commercial Court of Paris. The announcement was made before several elected council, met for the second time to examine "the draft declaration of insolvency" of the company in financial difficulty.

Union representatives said they refused to give an opinion, but said that management believes they had a negative opinion, which enables it to override. "The Chair (Virgin, Christine Mondollot) will go to court business," said Jean-Luc know Breyne elected CGT EC AFP. An administrator will then be appointed, which will focus on the fate of some 1,000 employees of the brand, which has 26 stores.  

Trade unions believe that Virgin has not the means to finance a social plan and call for its majority shareholder (74%), the investment fund Butler Capital Partners. Laurent Paqueret, a representative of the fund, was present at EC Tuesday morning to answer employees' questions. But, according to Guy Olharan (CGT), they "encountered an end of inadmissibility" on his part. "Butler refuses to take responsibility for financing the social aspect of everything that will unfortunately follow," he lamented on behalf of the elected EC.

"All possibilities discussed"

In the entourage of funds, it is argued that "Virgin of cash and assets, it may assign to finance socially." The brand has already recovered 20 million since 2008 by selling leases several stores, including those at Bordeaux Merignac and the Louvre. As it is expected to get its flagship store on the Champs-Élysées.

"The shareholders have invested $ 15 million in four years," said Butler also close, pointing out that such shareholder has reorganized the logistics and also opened stores (Saint Lazare in Paris, Rouen, Toulouse, for example).

The fund, which has successfully recovered Groupe Flo and France Mushrooms, defends himself by arguing that the distributor of cultural products was already in trouble in 2008, when he put his hand on it. He hoped to make a professional electronic games market has since returned, suffering from competition from the Internet. Revenue has not declined steadily from 371 million euros in 2008 to 313 million in 2011. Similarly, operating income remained negative since 2006.  

With the beginning of the process of filing for bankruptcy, the company will have a breath of fresh air because its debts are frozen. "All options will be considered," a close advance of funds. The most likely scenario, however, seems outright end of the sign, with a further assignment of leases of stores.

According to our information, patterns of partial recovery by competitors or partnerships with other distributors or brands have indeed been studied without success. The arrival of Virgin stores in Système U has been considered, but the project was not successful. Virgin was able, however, to implement a few corners in shops on BP motorway service areas last summer, but it was not enough to get the boat afloat.  

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USA: Congress always on the brink budget

Auto Date Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013

 

The budget compromise passed a minimum during the night of New Year's Day by the Senate deputies is not suitable for conservative Republicans. It would avoid a fall in "precipice budget" but does not reduce the deficit. This text does not specify sustainable reductions in public spending but put $ 600 billion of tax increases over a period of ten years. For these reasons, the rapid adoption Tuesday by the House of Representatives, text laboriously negotiated in the Senate problem.

John Boehner, the "speaker" (President) Republican in the lower house, is in the uncomfortable position of having to rely on dozens of Democrats vote to pass an emergency law ungrateful he did not negotiate the content . His deputy, head of the House Republican, Eric Cantor, flatly refused to support the text. The ability to add amendments specifying cuts in public spending is considered. Democrats oppose it for reasons of time and not jeopardize the agreement painfully negotiated in the Senate. The procedure delay the release of "fiscal cliff" since it would return the new amended version in the Senate adopts it in the same terms. However, any delay in the adoption of the compromise was to be avoided in order to prevent massive increases in taxes and automatic lined with sharp reductions in spending, be felt.

Go right and left

Without a vote of both Houses of Congress on an identical text, America slips effect from the end of 2012 in a fiscal precipice likely to cause a new recession in a few weeks. Automatic tax increases of no less than $ 400 billion of credit and declines of more than 100 billion dollars came into force on 1 January. "Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans got everything they wanted, but this deal is good for our country and the House must adopt without delay," said Barack Obama. "There is still much work to do to reduce our deficits and have the will to tackle it payday loan lenders… We will continue to reduce the deficit through a combination of new spending cuts and new revenues on the richest Americans" , the president added.

The promise of new tax increases as a condition of real deficit reduction, reaching 7% of the GDP of the United States, has unleashed the wrath of the Tea Party Republicans. It is true that the left of the Democratic Party is also disappointed with the compromise negotiated in recent days by the leader of the Republican minority in the Senate, Mitch McConnell, and Joe Biden, the vice president of the United States. Without daring to block the vote, three senators "progressives" voted against the text. Among them, Tom Harkin, Senator from Iowa, veteran Democratic Left.

The new tax burden

The plan only see two months of automatic reductions spending more than $ 100 billion. More importantly, it does not raise the debt ceiling, yet reached on 31 December. In a word, the agreement ensures that a minimum in less than two months Congress and the White House will meet at the edge of a precipice new, even more dangerous.

Number of Democrats also complain that the new tax burden begins to affect only the wealthy from $ 450,000 annual income per household. Five years ago that Barack Obama calls for a tax increase from $ 250,000 per year. Increases taxes on capital gains, dividends, and higher inheritance accepted by Mitch McConnell are weaker than hoped the left wing of the Democratic Party. "It is not the big bold and bipartisan compromise that we need, the markets need, our country needs is a little compromise ensures that taxes 98% of Americans will not climb" summed up the Delaware Sen. Chris Coons.

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Florange: Montebourg excludes resign

Auto Date Sunday, December 2nd, 2012

 

No, he will not resign. Despite the failure of his proposal to nationalize the site of ArcelorMittal Florange, Arnaud Montebourg decided to stay in his "battle stations." "If it was a personal question, yes, I have seriously considered [to resign]. But this is a fight for France and for the reconstruction of our industry. Therefore, the question becomes indecent.

Friday night, shortly after the signing of the agreement with Mittal, Matignon explained that the track nationalization transitional defended by Montebourg was "legally risky and economically unstable." As the announcement at the National Assembly for a buyer willing to invest 400 million euros, it was swept by the Office of the Prime Minister who claimed not to have found "credible buyer with a firm offer and a plan funding loop. "

If Matignon has corrected this a few hours later noting, in a statement, efforts Arnaud Montebourg who has "worked hard" to "establish a balance of power in favor of the conclusion of the agreement" between the government and ArcelorMittal, many felt the Minister of productive recovery disavowed.

The issue of nationalization is still valid

"If I had disowned me feel, I would not have been alone for more than 63% of French people supported this proposal, which is a kind of weapon for the public to be respected," said Arnaud Montebourg on the set of TF1. "There were members from all benches, former ministers sarkozystes, Jacques Chirac, who supported this proposal. There was a patriotic mobilization in favor of saving the French steel. "

Arnaud Montebourg said the CEO of ArcelorMittal has "never held any agreement" and "humiliated many governments." The threat of nationalization, which remains valid, should, in his view, to prevent it from happening again. "It's a deterrent. If Mr. Mittal does not meet its commitments, the State will assume its responsibilities. "

For Morano, "Montebourg is disavowed"

On the right, the first statements of Matignon Friday were taken as a sign of divergence. Twitter on the former Minister Nadine Morano noted: "Montebourg announced a buyer ghost in the National Assembly, what credibility there before unions?".

Montebourg announced a phantom buyer the National Assembly, he quellecrédibilité to unions?

– Nadine Morano (@ nadine__morano) November 30, 2012

# Florange: Montebourg disowned by Ayrault discredited before the unions.

– Nadine Morano (@ nadine__morano) November 30, 2012

Jean-Francois Cope deplored "very disturbing reversals which give the impression of a form of improvisation at the top of the state." "Florange recalls François Hollande gravity that our industry needs structural reforms," ​​warns the president challenged the UMP. "These are not the chin shots of some ministers that led to this agreement. This technique bully is not a coherent industrial policy. Instead, it endangers numerous industrial sites throughout the territory, "he says.

Jean-Louis Borloo, president of the UDI, has called him "a great debate on the entire French steel industry." "The temporary nationalization was a slogan which could not succeed because of our submission to the European Union," she said to the leader of the National Front, Marine Le Pen.

The Elysee promises to "maintain pressure"

At the Elysee, all efforts were made to contain the disappointment of unions. "If Mittal behaved like a man who does not keep its word, the leverage does not disappear with the announcement" government assured Friday evening the entourage of the Head of State. "We must keep up the pressure because the unions say is that we can still have confidence," admitted one source said. According to the presidential palace, "the pressure element that tipped Mittal, it was the fear of nationalization." However, this tool "subsists" "the remedies we have not used this time, we can use them whenever you want." In this respect, during his interview with Lakshmi Mittal last Tuesday at the Elysée, François Hollande has shown "extremely strong" and even "hard" vis-à-vis its partner, do you know.

In the same vein of language, Michel Sapin Saturday urged employees Florange to "regain confidence", ensuring that the government would ensure that each engagement ArcelorMittal is "scrupulously honored." "Given the history, I understand the skepticism of employees, so we are extremely attentive, day after day, that firm and unconditional are held by Mr Mittal," said the Minister of Labour on Europe 1. Same promises from the Minister of Economy. Pierre Moscovici has guaranteed that "the government will constantly vigilant and commitments made by Mittal." "It is not there a gift but a pact, a contract," he said.

(With agencies)

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The dispute over the VAT increase swelling

Auto Date Friday, November 9th, 2012

 

The government will he be forced once again to review its copy? Two days after announcing a VAT increase in 2014 to fund one third of the tax credit Competitiveness and Employment (Cice) implemented in 2013, the executive faces a slingshot unexpectedly. By both professionals and affected worrying about the impact on their order books (and hence employment) this certain elected as the presidential majority who see it as a new gift (too) to patterns.

Aside from the few products taxed at 2.1% (drugs covered by Social Security, live animals or meat sold in butcher, TV license fee, publication of press …), all the others will be affected by these changes in VAT. And rather higher, the lower rate reduced from 5.5 to 5% on staples (pass gas and electricity supply, services for the disabled, food for school canteens …) does not compensate for outbreaks the other reduced rate (which increased from 7% to 10%) and rate (from 19.6% to 20%). 

The impact will not be painless on the price of consumer goods more or less common places like cinema or theater, flowers, tobacco, gasoline, automobiles, appliances, gas consumption and electricity, jewelry, perfume, shampoo, toothbrushes, DVDs, hairdresser … No offense to the government therefore considers that low-income households will be unaffected due to the structure of their consumption basket ( composed mainly of basic necessities), the total bill 6-7000000000 2014 indeed affect everyone.

30,000 job losses

The pressure is so strong that some sectors in difficulty are out of their scope of VAT in order not to sink further into crisis. All professional lobbies are therefore pressure in the sense of the House for two days, led by representatives of the hospitality and the building that raise the specter of at least 30,000 job losses if the tax rate goes 10%. A challenge in times of high unemployment rise has integrated the government confirmed Thursday, be willing to review it.

If this were the case, the government should compensate the shortfall of demotion – however unlikely – the restaurant industry and others in the category of those taxed at 5%. It would then only two possibilities to find the revenue corresponding to the tax shortfall of lowering: anticipating the two-year implementation of ecological tax which should allow to complete the financial side of the device (3.5 billion) in 2016, to the chagrin of environmentalists who find this calendar too late. Or cut a little more in the $ 10 billion of additional savings that the government plans to do after 2014 after revisiting the policy of the State, local government spending and social security included.

Briefly, two offsets easier to expose to implement, both technically and politically. The debate on 'VAT competitiveness "version Holland has just begun

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State and bosses: the sometimes tense relations

Auto Date Friday, October 26th, 2012

 

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