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French unions to decide on Editis bonus action

13.06.08 Barbara Casassus

French trade unions may decide this morning (13th June) on fresh action in protest against the latest staff bonus offer from Editis c.e.o. Alain Kouck out of the capital gain received from the company’s takeover by Planeta.

Kouck had increased his initial offer of €600 to €1,000 gross for each of the 2,500 employees, but this is still not enough, according to Gérard Fabert, national secretary for books and communications of the Générale du Travail (CGT). A joint communiqué by the five union groups on Tuesday said €1,500 net per head would enable "an honourable exit from the crisis"

Earlier, staff sent an open letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy to plead their case. Anger mounted further when the French press reported that Kouck would pocket €11.3m from the takeover, to be banked in Luxembourg, while the two top executives of Editis’ previous owner, Wendel, would receive €93m and €73m respectively.

Employees at the Editis distributor, Interforum, have staged short daily stoppages, and the works councils of publishers Seuil and La Martinière have expressed support for the Editis personnel, said Fabert. Meanwhile, the staff of publisher Flammarion has demanded a per capita bonus of €1,000 as its share of the company’s 2007 10% rise in net profits, and cash to offset inflation.

Separately, the French Booksellers Association (Syndicat de la Librairie Française, SLF) is up in arms over an amendment to a parliamentary bill that would shorten payment periods from 60 to 45 days. The measure is aimed to bolster supermarket chains’ small and medium-sized sized suppliers, but represents a "very strong new attack" against independent booksellers. The SLF is asking for the sector to be exempt.  

Barbara Casassus Wendel Editis Global Flammarion Seuil La Martiniere

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