France: agreement reached to ensure production activity continues at STMicroelectronics

The majority agreement signed on 18 March with two of the three trade unions (CFDT and CFE-CGC) at the semiconductor manufacturing company temporarily adapts business activity in the context of the containment measures introduced by public authorities one week ago. This text allows five of the firm's industrial sites to reduce their workforce by up to half over the period from 19 March to 2 April 2020, without any loss of present or future salary because “the rest days that would be imposed during the period of reduced activity will be considered as actual working time when calculating remuneration”. The agreement also provides for the price of travelling to work by car to be covered. The FGMM-CFDT press release states that: “In addition to these measures, a temperature reading of employees will be taken upon entry to each site before taking up their duties.” The agreement may be revised in the light of health conditions and measures taken by the government. The CGT refused to sign the agreement, judging the 50% target as too high. In a statement issued on 20 March, the union asks for the “temporary shutdown of the manufacturing units, with only a very limited workforce to ensure the safety of installations (Seveso), or even only for the production of chips used for medical purposes. Everything else is not, at present, essential for the nation”. At several sites, the union has filed a procedure for serious and imminent danger (which obliges a joint investigation and, in the event of a difference of agreement between the parties, would involve the labour inspectorate) and invites employees to use their right to withdraw.