Can we keep the social gains? Trade unions in Western countries cannot conceive that such hard-won gains can be called into question, even just discussed! I am twenty years old, and I will keep them forever!
Unions will not be able to hold on without changing the “nature” of what is gained. In small and medium-sized companies, unions must continue or initiate dialogue, disseminating proposals that would move in the direction of transparency and a more balanced distribution of profits.
Many of these companies are going through difficult times, and while they were previously mostly resistant to these ideas, now “necessity dictates” they can “reasonably” understand the very significant benefit they could gain.
Everyone would benefit, the workers by no longer being just numbers to an entrepreneur who is not interested in employees sticking their noses into “his” business, the entrepreneurs by having employees who are motivated by their business and not just interested in their salary.
In large companies and in the administration, the struggle must be uncompromising, and any decision that does not aim at greater justice and that is made at the expense of the weakest must be categorically rejected.
Any change in the social acquis must be made through an exchange towards a balance, the economic situation imposes these changes. To want to preserve at all costs the acquired rights or to share working time is simply to continue to save one’s small local, trade union or other privileges, it is the utopia of… wanting to be 20 years old!