Grenelle agreements
Encyclopedia
The Grenelle Agreements or Grenelle Reports were negotiated 25 and 26 May, during the crisis of May 1968 in France by the representative of the Pompidou
government, the trade unions, and the Organisation patronale. Among the negotiators were Jacques Chirac
, then the young Secretary of State
of Local Affairs, and Georges Séguy, representative of the Confédération générale du travail
.
The Grenelle Agreements, concluded 27 May 1968—but not signed—led to a 35% increase in the minimum wage
(salaire minimum interprofessionnel garanti) and 10% increase in average real wage
s. It also provided for the establishment of the trade union section of business (Section syndicale d'entreprise), through the act
of 27 December, 1968.
Rejected by the base, the agreements did not immediately solve the social crisis and the strikes continued. But three days later on 30 May, Charles de Gaulle
, back in Paris after meeting with the Jacques Massu
in Baden-Baden
, Germany
, the previous day, was comforted by an enormous Gaullist counter-demonstration on Champs-Élysées. He decided to dissolve the National Assembly and to call for elections on 30 June 1968. The triumph of the Gaullists of the UDR
(293 of 378 seats) ended the political crisis.
The name Grenelle is taken from the area where the agreements were negotiated, at the Ministry of Social Affairs
located on the rue de Grenelle in Paris. The hotel, built in the late eighteenth century, formerly the Archbishop's Palace, was actually part of the Ministry of Labour since 1905. The "Room of Agreements", named since then, is an old dining room decorated in eighteenth-century style has been preserved.
Georges Pompidou
Georges Jean Raymond Pompidou was a French politician. He was Prime Minister of France from 1962 to 1968, holding the longest tenure in this position, and later President of the French Republic from 1969 until his death in 1974.-Biography:...
government, the trade unions, and the Organisation patronale. Among the negotiators were Jacques Chirac
Jacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
, then the young Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
of Local Affairs, and Georges Séguy, representative of the Confédération générale du travail
Confédération générale du travail
The General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
.
The Grenelle Agreements, concluded 27 May 1968—but not signed—led to a 35% increase in the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
(salaire minimum interprofessionnel garanti) and 10% increase in average real wage
Real wage
The term real wages refers to wages that have been adjusted for inflation. This term is used in contrast to nominal wages or unadjusted wages. Real wages provide a clearer representation of an individual's wages....
s. It also provided for the establishment of the trade union section of business (Section syndicale d'entreprise), through the act
Statute
A statute is a formal written enactment of a legislative authority that governs a state, city, or county. Typically, statutes command or prohibit something, or declare policy. The word is often used to distinguish law made by legislative bodies from case law, decided by courts, and regulations...
of 27 December, 1968.
Rejected by the base, the agreements did not immediately solve the social crisis and the strikes continued. But three days later on 30 May, Charles de Gaulle
Charles de Gaulle
Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969....
, back in Paris after meeting with the Jacques Massu
Jacques Massu
Jacques Émile Massu was a French general who fought in World War II, the First Indochina War, the Algerian War and the Suez crisis.-Early life:Jacques Massu was born in Châlons-sur-Marne to a family of military officers; his father was an artillery officer...
in Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the previous day, was comforted by an enormous Gaullist counter-demonstration on Champs-Élysées. He decided to dissolve the National Assembly and to call for elections on 30 June 1968. The triumph of the Gaullists of the UDR
Union pour la nouvelle République
The Union for the New Republic , was a French political party founded on 1 October 1958 that supported Charles de Gaulle in the French presidential election, 1958- History :The UNR won 206 of 579 seats in the November 1958 elections....
(293 of 378 seats) ended the political crisis.
The name Grenelle is taken from the area where the agreements were negotiated, at the Ministry of Social Affairs
Minister of Social Affairs (France)
The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment The Minister of Social Affairs and Employment (French: Ministre des Affaires sociales et de l'emploi is a cabinet member in the Government of France. The position was originally known as Minister of Labor...
located on the rue de Grenelle in Paris. The hotel, built in the late eighteenth century, formerly the Archbishop's Palace, was actually part of the Ministry of Labour since 1905. The "Room of Agreements", named since then, is an old dining room decorated in eighteenth-century style has been preserved.