GRANDS MAGASINS: PRÉAVIS DE GRÈVE POUR LES SOLDES
[DEPARTMENT STORES: ADVANCE STRIKE WARNING FOR BARGAIN DAYS]

January 9, 2007 (20 Minutes) - La fronde s'organise dans les grands magasins parisiens pour contrer le lancement des soldes, demain dès 8 h. L'intersyndicale des trois principaux d'entre eux, le Printemps, Les Galeries Lafayette et le Bon Marché, appelle à la grève pour « dénoncer la dérégulation des temps de travail ». Ces magasins comptent en effet ouvrir plus tôt et fermer plus tard demain, et une « Nuit des soldes » est prévue jeudi jusqu'à 22 h. Une « goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase » pour les syndicats, après le rythme effréné des fêtes de fin d'année et ses ouvertures dominicales.

... Didier Lalance, directeur du Printemps Haussmann, a assuré que « les choses vont se dérouler parfaitement », les équipes de demain ayant été constituées « sur la base du volontariat ».

A revolt is growing within the big Parisian department stores to block the [annual winter] sales tomorrow at 8A. The unions from the three main department stores, Printemps, Galeries Lafayette and Bon Marché, are calling for a strike to "denounce the deregulation of working times". These department stores intend to open earlier and to close later tomorrow, and a "sales night" is planned on Thursday until 10P. It's the "straw that broke the camel's back" ( « goutte d'eau qui fait déborder le vase » ) for the trade unions, especially after the madness of the holiday season and its Sunday openings.

... Didier Lalance, director of Printemps Haussmann, has guaranteed that "things will roll along nicely", tomorrow's ream's having been out together "on a voluntary basis."

[Hat tip: Carine at E-Nough!]

Now mind, every last worker is paid to the very last sou for every last tick ticked on the time clock. And the workers involved have volunteered their services for which the stores recompense handsomely.

So what is the problem? It is the larger problem of an invented principle of uniform labor violently perturbed by the imagined slave practices associated with seasonal shopping -- the most profitable season for the department stores, the same department stores that must keep on workers during the slow-sales summer months.

Oh! The humanity! That commercial enterprises should so drive willing workers while paying the freight!

Why should the less-industrious union members be made to look less industrious? Why should they be disadvantaged by regular pay for regular hours? And most serious, since when does personal choice trump union work rules?

PFFT (What is this?): Shoppers must not discommode the counter help 4 | Stores need new profit strategies that do not rely sales 5 | Rayonnement français 0