France: carmakers sign agreements to avoid layoffs and maintain pay during partial unemployment

carmaker Renault and four union organizations (CFDT, CFTC, CFE-CGC and FO) signed a “social crisis agreement” aimed at saving “8.000-10.000 jobs in France in 2009.” The agreement establishes a system to maintain employees’ net pay during partial unemployment, mobilizing days granted for working time reduction and calling some categories of employees, notably executives, for solidarity. Likewise, on April 6, PSA Peugeot Citroën signed an agreement with five trade unions (CFE-CGC, CFDT, CFTC, FO