work now

Theme: Work

Work is now considered a fundamental value of society. However, this is not always the case (ancient times, slavery), from the Middle Ages, and until the 19th century: success is not to work.

Work becomes value with increasing wage labor. Syndicalism, the political party put it not only to earn a living but as a value of recognition, of belonging to the world of salary, to a kind of society, with a place of profession and the idea of ​​a job that is good finished.

In the 20th century, production became a priority in the rise of contradictions between classes in the organization of society in relation to the cooperation with many trade unions and political struggles that resulted particularly in France at the end of the second war . CNR program: social protection system against unemployment, social security, etc.

There is a real symbolism of right/left differences in the idea of ​​work that lead to strong social debates: on rtt, unemployment, minimum wage. Then training, integration, social dialogue (see labor union law) ….

In the 21st century, the crises of capitalism (2008), health (Covid and following), the environment, have led to another questioning of the meaning of work.

What is its use? What lead to? Does work remain the foundation of social life?

This is the question of the “great resignation” United States, France, Great Britain…that of the “bifurcation”. In any case, the left has a responsibility to the workers: to protect, to reduce inequality, to improve people’s lives.
During employment: working conditions and quality and after: retirement.

The place of democracy in the company, in the workplace, then appeared with intelligence.

From these various elements, follow the points on which the Socialist Party must reflect in order to get up to date:

1/ democracy at work, including the area of ​​new employee rights (we are on the 40th anniversary of the Auroux laws) e.g. the number of union representatives in CSEs (their role in expressing workers in the company).

2/ reflection on health and working conditions (statistical analysis of the number of accidents at work).

3 / reversal of the debate on the lack of employees, not the adequacy of the employees in the position demanded by the employers but by the definition of their own responsibilities in the current shortages and the recognition of the work to be done and not only the salary

4/ The typology of different forms of work and work. There are differences between the two. We are only talking about paid work, but unpaid and unappreciated domestic work must also be put into perspective, as well as voluntary commitment as a contribution to social life (associations, trade unions, elected officials, etc. .) with recognition of voluntary work. (eg assessment of hours worked in relevant balances and subsidies).

5/ The link to be explored between environment and work in terms of the consequences of one on the other.

6/ What about the job what does it entail in terms of bringing knowledge, experience and delivering perspective.

7/ In relation to the previous point, the area of ​​digital technology (substitution, speed, indirect subordination, monitoring and increasing work density with consequences in terms of health and balance.

8/ Finally, we need to continue researching unionism. What is its future in the 21st century? What form of organization for the collective defense of workers? How does this debate contribute to the very definition of the term social democracy?

In all these points it appears that our corpus is out of date: between the 20th century and the legitimate nostalgia it generates and the prospect that involves the inversion of paradigms (e.g. for adapting to the workstation), the PS must be united in the meaning and utility of the word work. In this theme we need to share our opinions and intuition with others for a necessary formalization. Hence a proposal for a meeting and exchange to be organized (with other parties on the left, trade unions, associations, sociologists, etc.) by the federal authorities.

Signatories :

François BAUDOUIN (BF-22), Jean-Marie BENIER (BF-22), Camille CAURET (BF-22), Loïc CAURET (BF-22), Fanny CHAPPÉ (BF-22), Christian COAIL (BF-22), Pierre HUONNIC (BF-22),
Patrice KERVAON (BF-22), Philippe LANDURÉ (BF-22), Monique LE CLEZIO (BF-22), Philippe LE GOUX (BF-22), Jean-Louis LE TACON (BF-22), Claudy LEBRETON (BF- 22), Arnaud LECUYER (BF-22), Antonin MAHÉ (BF-22), Michel MORIN (BF-22), Michel PEROCHE (BF-22), Jean-Yves QUERE (BF-22), Maryse RAOULT (BF- 22), Antoine RAVARD (BF-22), Wolfram TROEGER (BF-22), Claire VIDAMENT (BF-22)