The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Economics => Topic started by: Wretched Excess on July 26, 2008, 11:06:51 PM
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France's au revoir to 35-hour work week
The French Parliament adopted an economic measure late yesterday that in effect ends France's mandatory 35-hour work week.
The Bill was supported by the Senate's right-wing majority, members of President Nicolas Sarkozy's party, but rejected by the Socialist opposition.
Senators also adopted other key changes to rules on strikes, tightened criteria for unemployment payments, and freed up the economy with plans to bring down the cost of living by boosting competition.
The measures were approved by the lower house, the National Assembly, earlier this month, and now become law with the backing of the Senate, where Mr Sarkozy's UMP party has a majority.
The change most hotly contested by the Socialists and the trade unions is the move to let companies ditch the 35-hour work week, a measure brought in by a Socialist government 10 years ago and denounced by conservatives as a drag on France's competitiveness.
The new law maintains the working week at 35 hours but gives businesses the right to negotiate directly with employees to decide their working hours.
More (http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/frances-au-revoir-to-35hour-work-week/1226553.aspx)
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Wow--letting companies deal with workers directly? Without government interference?
Whoda thunk it?
Now if my company would get off their dead asses and let us go onto a 9/80 schedule like we've asked for lo these last several months....
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The 35-hour week was an initiative aimed at cutting unemployment and the French statistics institute INSEE said it created 350,000 new jobs between 1998 and 2002, but at the cost of billions of euros in state aid to companies.
Public opinion polls show the French still view the 35-hour week as a progressive measure they do not wish to surrender.
And therein lies the rub. Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats like they would have us believe. It drains the lake. And teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.
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I guess this won't affect my 3 day 36 hour work week. :-)
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My co-workers keep asking if we can go to a 4-10 work week. All that would mean for me is a day off. I work 5 10's now. :thatsright:
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They have 3 different shifts where I work: the standard 40 hours, 4 -10 hours days, (some work Mon-Thurs, and some Tue-Friday), and my shift 3 -12's Fri-Sun. I guess there is a 4th shift, nights 3:30 to midnight, Mon-Friday.
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My co-workers keep asking if we can go to a 4-10 work week. All that would mean for me is a day off. I work 5 10's now. :thatsright:
Hell, I'd do that. Even on a 9/80 schedule, it just means I'm guaranteed an extra 8 hours of OT every two weeks on top of what I'm already getting, since there's too much work to be done anyway.
Yeah, you see me workin here...
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The 35-hour week was an initiative aimed at cutting unemployment and the French statistics institute INSEE said it created 350,000 new jobs between 1998 and 2002, but at the cost of billions of euros in state aid to companies.
Public opinion polls show the French still view the 35-hour week as a progressive measure they do not wish to surrender.
And therein lies the rub. Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats like they would have us believe. It drains the lake. And teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.
It's like fishing with dynamite. It appears to achieve some positive results for awhile, but it gradually destroys the source of the harvest in the long run.
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The 35-hour week was an initiative aimed at cutting unemployment and the French statistics institute INSEE said it created 350,000 new jobs between 1998 and 2002, but at the cost of billions of euros in state aid to companies.
Public opinion polls show the French still view the 35-hour week as a progressive measure they do not wish to surrender.
And therein lies the rub. Socialism doesn't create a rising tide that lifts all boats like they would have us believe. It drains the lake. And teaches the boat riders not to help themselves by rowing.
that is the best analogy ive heard of socialism... bang on.