French company bosses to go on strike

Medef – the French employers' union representing business leaders – has confirmed a week of action from December 1st, BFM TV reported.

Geoffroy Roux de Bezieux, union vice president, told the BFM Business television channel: “We will protest in various ways. There will be meetings, there will be testimonials, some will maybe take to the street to express the frustration and suffering of French bosses.”

Medef will be joined in the action by CGPME – a union representing small and medium businesses.

Company bosses plan to go to battle over a number of issues, including the severity of working conditions, the minimum part-time working week of 24 hours and taxation of dividends.

While both organizations are set to protest, their methods will differ. CGPME is planning demonstrations in Paris and Toulouse, while Medef's Pierre Gattaz does not want his union's members in the streets, suggesting instead a milder form of mobilization – such as an open letter to the government.