Germany: higher salaries in industry

 

Historical salary increases announced this weekend across the Rhine fall sheer to Berlin. Germany sees further evidence of the virtues of the model of growth through structural reforms advocated by the government of Angela Merkel. The approximately 800,000 employees in the metal in the regional state of Baden-Württemberg (southwest) achieved a 4.3% increase in their wages after marathon negotiations, announced their union IG Metall on Saturday morning.

This regional agreement, valid from this month until April 2013, is the first to be signed this year in Germany in this vast branch of German industry.

Policy interventions

The agreement, which should serve as a benchmark for other agreements across the country, covers the major German manufacturing industries, including automakers such as Volkswagen, Daimler and BMW. A total of 3.6 million people are employed in the industry a pillar industry for exports to Europe's largest economy.

This is the largest increase in wages since 1992. After ten years of effort, followed by a stagnation of wages over time as the economic crisis is overcome, the German trade unions are now demanding their share. This historic increase was achieved thanks in part to calls from German politicians who have broken with their tradition of not intervening in wage negotiations. Thus, the finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, has repeatedly called for sharp increases, holding that wage growth in Germany would be faster than the rest of Europe.

Employees in the metal are found, however, worse off than two million civil servants in the country, who have dropped out in late March up 6.3% of their salaries. These increases are expected to reinforce the momentum of domestic consumption beyond the Rhine, long considered the Achilles heel of German growth. They should also help to reduce imbalances, sources of tensions within the euro area. P. S.-P.

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Yannick Noah will be "happy" to pay tax at 75%

 

"I'm happy to pay. And I will. " In an interview published today in the Journal From Sunday, Yannick Noah has reaffirmed its support for the proposal of François Hollande to tax at 75% the share of income above one million euros per year.

"It's much, 75%. And that's not enough. You have to share, redistribute, if you go to the wall, "says the singer. "Among the people involved, 99% are against it. My friends right, and I have many, are green with rage at me. They do not want to see me, call me a fake-ass. They have no concept of public interest. It's every man for himself. "

The former tennis champion, criticized for his move to Switzerland from 1991 to 1993 to escape the French tax, is one of the few personalities to have publicly supported the proposal of the Socialist candidate.

In March, he had already affirmed its support for the tax to 75%. "That's great, he told BFM TV. This is the moment when we must help those who are down. There are too many who have. I would always be many more. But on the other hand, there is a time when there is too much inequality. "

Conversely, the football world was immediately opposed this proposal, fearing that it does escape the best players abroad. The singer and actor Patrick Bruel had also openly criticized the idea of ​​taxing income at 75%: "It reached proportions where it becomes limited and confiscatory confiscatory," he said.

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Industrial jobs: when the government gets involved

 

The intervention of Nicolas Sarkozy to save Alstom in summer 2004, to his recent statements in favor of employees of ArcelorMittal Florange site, the head of state has been well arise in the opponent's famous statement Lionel Jospin: "The state can not do everything." At least when it comes to industrial employment. "We must at all costs strangle the flow of blood Industrial France," he repeated again in January. Since 2007, the government frequently intervened in several disputes, most often publicized in order to save jobs. A few weeks before the presidential election, the employees do not hesitate to use the campaign to make their demands heard. Overview of some government promises … and their future.

The success

• Photowatt. The resumption of French pioneer of photovoltaics by EDF no longer in doubt. Next Monday, the commercial court of Vienna should assign the assets of Photowatt to the public company called to the rescue by the Head of State at the end of January. Previously, STMicroelectronics, specialized microprocessors, had been approached. Without success. The next upturn of the SME Isère by EDF Energies Nouvelles is good news for employees: the subsidiary of the electrician has pledged to resume on 430 and 345 to reclassify within 60 km of the 85 remaining employees. "Everybody has a job, I do not see what you could get any better," responded Tuesday a Steward FW, while conceding that "the industrial project is to build". According to the UMP Bourgoin, Alain Moyne-Bressan, must already "put 50 million euros on the table for the coming months."

• Lejaby. Mid-January 2012, the Tribunal de Commerce de Lyon chose Alain Prost, former manager of La Perla and Chantelle, as the buyer of the manufacturer of linen placed in receivership. Only problem: the entrepreneur, who keeps only about 450 195 employees, wants to relocate the entire production in Tunisia. This is sign the death warrant of the factory Lejaby Yssingeaux, and the dismissal of his 93 employees. An announcement of the worst effect when the candidate Nicolas Sarkozy – not yet declared – boasts the "Made in France". "I will not let down the people of Lejaby," he warned on January 29. It is ultimately the luxury group LVMH, requested by the Elysee, which will come to the aid of the factory from Auvergne. The takeover bid, from a subcontractor for Louis Vuitton, the company Sofama, was filed on February 1. All staff should be re-employed on permanent contracts, and converted into luxury leather goods.  

Failures:

• Gandhinagar. February 4, 2008, the Head of State gives hope to the 595 employees of ArcelorMittal factory in Lorraine, then threatened with partial closure in the near future. "The State prefers to invest in modernizing the site rather than paying people to go with either early retirement or unemployed," he explained then. He continued: "I will myself announce it has found the solution." If, despite these promises, 595 jobs will actually be discontinued from 31 March 2009, the city of Gandhinagar, however, benefited from a state investment of 5 million for a learning center, and a contract worth 300 million euros between RFF and the steelmaker Corus. Objective: To produce the rails RFF within its Hayange plant, near the disaster site.

"Nicolas Sarkozy in Gandhinagar:

……

Action Housing continues the state court

Having long raged about the punctures of the State Budget, Action Housing, the former 1% housing, just go on the offensive. Reportedly, the joint body attacked last Friday before the Paris Administrative Court of the State's decision to withdraw 3.7 billion euros between 2009 and 2011. These funds are used to finance the Anah (National Housing) and ANRU (National Renewal). "We made an informal appeal with the government against the decree fixing the puncture but we never received a reply, said Jean-Pierre Guillon, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Action Housing. We decided to attack the government for abuse of power. "

Smart devices

If Action Housing is the case in court today is with an idea behind the head.Last July, the government has said that he would collect 3.25 billion euros over the period 2012-2014. To sweeten the pill, the Secretary of State for Housing, Benoist Appeared, has committed to implement clever financial engineering to boost the cash flow of Action Housing. "But we have no documents indicating that commitment forward Jean-Pierre Guillon. If the minister changed, the following may not feel bound by that promise. "More generally, Action Housing, which collects 0.45% of payroll companies, believes that this aspiration will prevent it from fulfilling its mission . For example, he does not see how it could fund 45,000 homes for young people as he had promised a few months ago.

With this lawsuit, it seeks to pressure the state to be released in the coming weeks the decree laying down the drain of 3.25 billion between 2012 and 2014.

Ghosn's efforts to regain Renault

Came one week in Brazil to announce the expansion of the Renault plant in Curitiba (Parana State) and the creation of a site for Nissan in Resende (Rio de Janeiro), Carlos Ghosn, CEO of both companies, was welcomed as a head of state in his homeland.

Last Saturday, the President of the Republic, Dilma Roussef movement shifted to receive it. "We are very proud of you," she would have slipped to the one she considers the child in the country. He also had dinner in an atmosphere of "friendship" with the two governors of states where the group operates, before signing the agreements in their luxurious palaces. Finally, it was applauded by the workers of Curitiba, massed on the lawn of a sunny site, which he wrote a speech.

Relaxed as ever, we feel in his element."It's good to be true that in Brazil," said the globe-trotting owner, who was about to visit this weekend to his mother and two sisters, who live on site. For him, this country is a paradise full development. Here, as in China, "we prefer to see what will, while in Europe the focus is on what's wrong."

Yet it is this gloomy old continent – particularly in France, where he is idolized as far from Japan, China or Brazil – that he decided to spend more time, "pulling consequences "of the false espionage earlier this year.

For many, this fiasco was proof that the owner of two companies whose headquarters are located 10,000 kilometers away, was disconnected from the reality of Renault.Many employees, union representatives, but also members of the government, which accused him of favor at the expense of Renault Nissan, having sought to speed up the relocation.

"Today I am more present in France," he says, whereas previously the Hexagon was only 35% to 40% of its schedule. Nissan is going at full speed in China or the United States, Carlos Ghosn promised then to look at the head of Renault, less efficient no fax pay day loans. Japanese sales are expected to double according to him between 1999 and 2011, reaching 4.8 million units, while those of Renault have increased marginally over the period (2.6 million last year). Goal back on track in Europe, where sales of the group fell by 10.6% over the first 8 months of the year.But also boost the image of a registered design banal and lacking in high-end models.

One patron

"Pragmatic," Carlos Ghosn admits he made mistakes. "I was probably too delegate and I paid the consequences," he admits. "One of the problems at Renault, is that people felt that there were two bosses. There must be only one boss, and that's me, "he insists. As a result, the CEO, for whom the "management of Renault changed," "regained control of a number of operations" as the high end, human resources, communication or the ethics committee . He also concedes that the crisis has had under "to clean up relations" with the state (which holds 15% stake) and make the company "more mature".

Be present at the headquarters of Renault and be first in line, that is precisely what the CEO had promised, after the reorganization of the group in late May, which had weighed heavily on the government. Paying for his handling of the "case", Patrick Pelata, Renault's number two, had been set aside in favor of Carlos Tavares.

Mechanically, the scope of responsibility of Carlos Tavares, his number two has narrowed compared to that of his predecessor. "It has fewer powers," but of "autonomy in what remains," said Carlos Ghosn.

The question is whether the iconic CEO will honor its commitments over time. One thing is certain, it is restore the image of the diamond brand in Europe find it in France a strong credit started this winter.

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The CAC 40 falls through its

The days are not alike on the financial markets. The past three days, the CAC 40 has continued to flirt with the bar of 3000 points. This Friday, the stock index closed down 1.51% at 2981.96. Thursday reassured by indicators of employment growth and U.S. financial markets this time had a difficult session after disappointing statistics from the United States, China and Europe. Thanks to a good start to the week, however, the CAC 40 gained more than 5% this week.

So investors remained pessimistic before the meeting between President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister of Greece George Papandreou that began at 17 hours, to "take stock of the situation with him that is currently in Greece."

More than 18% increase for the banking week

Across the Atlantic, consumer spending has slowed sharply in August, while household incomes have in turn declined for the first time since October 2009. Were also more bad news from China where activity contracted slightly in September for the third consecutive month as Germany, which saw its retail sales fall 2.9% on month in August .Sign of the resurgence of pessimism, the euro resumed its decline against the dollar at 1.3456 dollars (-0.96%) and oil is about to go under 80 dollars to 80.082 dollars exactly (-1, 61%).

On the corporate side, banking stocks were again weighed on the Paris stock exchange, but this time negatively. Societe Generale lost 7.31% to 19.54 euros, Crédit Agricole has sold 3.17% to 5.23 euros and BNP Paribas dropped 3.50% to 30.05 euros. Week, however, was very positive for the French banks as they have won between 18% and 20% in stock. Most cyclical stocks, the more dependent the economy, also rose in the image of Lafarge (10.40% for the week) and ArcelorMittal (4.93%). However, the luxury sector has suffered: the last five sessions, lost 5.50% LVMH and PPR was down 7.88%.Vallourec, which suffers from the slowdown in the sectors of mechanical engineering, gives up almost 9% for the week.

Refinery strike threat to hard Berre and elsewhere …

As soon as the announcement by LyondellBasell Tuesday in council, the forthcoming closure of the Berre refinery, which employs 370 people, of all 1270 employees of a petrochemical site voted renewed strike of 24 hours. "More than a thousand employees, including much of the leadership, voted to stop all of the site, that is to say the refinery, but also units of petrochemical and oil depots, and blocking of entrances and exits, "said Patrick Sciurca, spokesman of the Inter (CGT, CFDT, CFE-CGC, FOR, CFTC). "We're dealing with rogue bosses. They force us to take tough positions that we can further tighten, "says the union.CGT announced yesterday that the general meetings will be held in all French refineries this morning.

In 2010, the area was paralyzed by a social movement in response to the announcement of the closure of the Flanders refinery, operated by Total in Dunkirk freecreditscore. At the time, the conflict had disrupted fuel distribution in France.

At Berre, the sale of the refinery achieved no result, LyondellBasell prefer to stop the costs: it has indeed lost 400 million euros since its acquisition in 2008 and is expected to be € 120 million deficit in 2012 . "It's the only number that management has given us. They are unable to tell us what results come out the whole site with or without the refinery while a McKinsey study estimated that closing the refinery would deprive downstream from the site of 80 million margin of integration " , Patrick gets upset Sciurca.

Bid rates on bank books

The French, who have cash to invest are spoiled for choice. Since early September, the war of books has flared up: banks, especially those dedicated to the Internet, engaging in a battle of promotional offers to attract home savers' deposits. They need the cash to finance themselves with it.

Some institutions are content, as in the past, offering a promotional rate of 4.5% or 5% (3 to 3.3% after tax) for two or three months for the opening of a new booklet . The good thing is short lived as the remuneration then falls to 1.75% or 2%. This string – display a high rate for a short time – is well known to subscribers.

Other institutions so attempting to stand out by offering lower rates, but longer guaranteed.This is for example the strategy of Cortal Consors (BNP Paribas), initiated by the summer. The property offers on new books 3.25% gross, but for 12 months (up to fifty million). Another subsidiary of BNP Paribas, Cetelem, also puts forward a savings account strictly identical conditions.

Rates guaranteed for one year

A fixed fee for one year is attractive for investors tired of "doing bounty hunting", that is to say, to transfer their capital from one institution to another and from one book to another, to take advantage of new offers short term personal loans. Other institutions are on the same register, even more cleverly. BforBank, a subsidiary of Credit Agricole, has revived some of its customers by promising 3% guaranteed, again for a year.But unlike other promotional offers reserved for the opening of a new book (or new installments of a book already exists), BforBank promises to serve this rate on any outstanding, that is to say also to amounts already invested in the booklet provided only "activate" the promotional offer.

That all customers BforBank not rejoice too quickly! The promotion was targeted: only those whose libretto is not too BforBank garni – and do not cost too much in interest to the bank – received the proposal. BforBank wishes to draw the subscriptions, but not at any price ….

The war is won booklets also in the field of customer segmentation. Like passengers on a plane, none of which paid for his ticket at the same price, investors who subscribed have the same book – a few months later – at all the same pay.Those who wanted to transfer their money have sometimes been offered to extend more interesting than those who leave the bed.

And those who have transferred their capital elsewhere without closing the book are offered more attractive rates for recharging …

Park the car with his phone

This is one of the innovations that made the most about her at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The French supplier Valeo has developed a system, called Park4U Remote, which allows to park your car while remaining outside it, with his mobile phone.

The application detects the parking spot, then maneuver the car away, receding, Braque, braking, forward and contrebraque any one until it is completely parked. The Utisa has to keep its finger on the smartphone to make the whole operation.

To stop everything, just lift the index. Interest: fit into small spaces on the street or parking lot, between two poles, without damaging the vehicle. To leave, you can also get the car out of the slot with his phone, if the door opening is made difficult by the narrowness of the place.No release date is currently indicated by Valeo, which currently markets a parking assist system semi-automatically.

One thing is certain, if this product becomes public, be flying his phone will become more annoying than ever.

Automotive: car pulls herself

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