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VOICE OF
ELECTRICITY WORKERS
No in the privatisation -
despoliation of EDF and GDF
History: On April 8th, 1946, France
has no more a penny. The government nationalises EDF-GDF to feed the Nation in
the general interest. On April 8th, 2004, France has no more a penny.
The government privatises EDF-GDF to pay someone in the particular interest.
The comparison is a
little bit metaphoric but it shows well the difference between a left government
and a right government.
What are thus the
main concern of this Raffarin government, version 2004? Hardly formed, it
proceeded in a substantial revaluation of the salary of the Ministers, of about
70%. First of all, it rebelled: is it acceptable that the French Ministers
perceive a salary very lower than that of their Europen counterparts and that
the incomes of the Prime Minister Mr. Raffarin are lower of 20% than those of
his British counterpart? Then it did not stop fighting for the advantages and
the privileges of the Ministers and the members of the parliament. Grateful, the
representatives of the right adopted “brave reforms”, started by the Raffarin
government (notably that of the pensions, condemned by the absolute majority of
the employees), that they contributed in) enrich” by their amendments.
Since its spectacular defeat during the regional and cantonal elections, on
March 21 and 28th, which means that its time is already counted, this
right government tries only to accelerate still its policy of selling off the
public Goods, before falling in the nothingness.
But it is
impossible to it to justify this attitude because the result of the
privatisations in the world is oppressive and, furthermore, no European
directive carries this requirement. Everywhere , the users pay more for a less
successful service. It is necessary to know, for example, that the big French
manufacturers who already can make play the competition by having appeal to the
other operators than traditional ones saw their invoice increasing by 50%. It
echoes on the price the private individuals have to pay. This increase is 1.5%
in Germany and 33% in Finland. In California, the prices were multiplied by
four. Let us add to this disastrous consequence of the privatisations that the
race in the profit is not a guarantee of security for the environment.
The power cuts in
California, in Spain or in Italy (six million customers without electricity!)
show grave dysfunctions which entails the management by the private of the
public utility of the gas and the electricity. Since the payment for the
shareholders is more important than the investments for the production, the
maintenance and the development of the network, it is the way opened to the
shortage and to the increase of the prices.
Today, EDF-GDF is
the guarantee of a fair service, a stable price and just, a national energy
independence, a recognised professionalism. AND TOMORROW?
It is in the name
of this tomorrow that the FNME-CGT together with the other unions of the energy
branches, organized on April 8th, 2004 a national strike and
demonstrations through all the country, with interventions on the working
tool to demand from the government the withdrawal of the privatisation bill of
EDF-GDF. The objectives of this national action of the energy workers were
defined in a very clear way:
Your energy, you
want it more expensive, as the water? Less sure, as the rail in Great Briton?
You prefer the candle as in California? Say Not to the privatisation of
EDF-GDF!Say yes to a public utility really in the service of all! Together let
us demand a referendum for the future of the energy in France”.
The strong
mobilisation of the electricians and the gas workers of April 8th
already allows headways for the users and the employees. A movement of an
exceptional scale never seen for 20 years! The Government apparently took the
measures of this mobilisation and begins to take into account a part of the
requirements carried by the movement of April 8th, but always
persists in changing the legal status of EDF-GDF, to transform them into limited
companies. The government manoeuvres, puts back successively the examination of
the bill of privatisation of EDF-GDF in Council of State continues its lies.
In front of this
situation, the FNME-CGT stays on the offensive and thus modifies not at all the
plan of actions decided in April and May, notably on April22nd and 23rd,
the 1st and on May 14th, and on May 27th for
the huge national demonstration in Paris, with all the employees of the energy
sector, the users and the elected members. Other actions are already foreseen in
June. The FNME-CGT leans on this new balance of power and the exceptional
mobilisation and aims only at a single objective, that of winning!
Answering our
appeal, the members of the IEMO brought their support and their active
solidarity in the fight of the FNME-CGT, while giving to this fight an
international dimension.
(IEMO Newsletter
April:2004)
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