France's eight main unions sent a letter to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on April 12 protesting the expansion of work on May Day. Lecornu is temporizing by promising dialogue and a meeting with the Labor Minister. The bill, adopted by the Senate in 2025, is subject to an accelerated parliamentary maneuver.
Leaders of France's eight main unions—CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, FSU, and Solidaires—sent a joint letter to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Sunday, April 12. They denounce the "forced passage" of the bill at the National Assembly, which aims to expand work authorization on May 1, particularly for proximity retail. "Mr. Prime Minister, one does not reform so brutally a text stemming from a century of social history and collective gains," they write.
Lecornu's entourage responded by stating the joint parliamentary committee (CMP) has not yet been convened and it is appropriate to "take the necessary time to move toward an effective and acceptable solution." At the Prime Minister's request, these organizations will meet Monday with Labor Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou to "pursue responsible dialogue." "As the Prime Minister has always said, there will be no forced passage," Matignon assures.
The bill originates from a proposal by centrist senators Annick Billon and Hervé Marseille, adopted by the Senate in July 2025 following inspections of bakers in 2024. On Friday, Macronist deputies, followed by Republicans and RN, tactically rejected the bill to send it to CMP for application as early as 2026.
PS first secretary Olivier Faure does not rule out a censure motion with the left if social dialogue is not respected, stating that "there can be nothing other than relaunching social dialogue" on this symbolic issue.
