May 14




This Saturday, the employees of the 500 Carrefour Market in France are expected to strike. Rue Maubeuge in Paris this morning, they were a fortnight before their store to answer the call of the CGT and soft petitions and leaflets to customers. They want to be housed in the same boat as their colleagues in Carrefour hypermarkets, according to the association, which, it is a little over a month, have mobilized massively, and with success.

On April 9, in fact, the movement – "historic" by the unions, had allowed the reopening of negotiations with management. The employees were then granted a special bonus of 220 euros gross July 31, the transition from 7 to 10% of discount on purchases (including gasoline) granted to staff and a commitment to renegotiate, the end November and a revaluation of the holiday allowance to go to a 14th month.The draft agreement, which will be endorsed on May 18, also provides for annual wage increases of 2% in March, is correlated with inflation, instead of the expected increase of 1% and 1% in March in October.

Beyond wages, working conditions are up for discussion. The union FGTA-FO deplores the removal of 10,000 jobs over the past five years, and denounced a "new business model based on night work generalized ultra simplified workflow and increased stress for employees.

Fighting the new economic model of the group

The Carrefour group is in the midst of strategic transformation, including its plans for divisions and development of its new hypermarket Planet.Mutations that cause a stir both at the executive level – the CEO France left the group last May 5, two months after the departure of Director – Europe and employees.

At the next general meeting to be held on June 21 next, they oppose the proposed division by the stock exchange's subsidiary Dia hard discount and the 25% of the land Carrefour Property. But their voice is low, employees own about 1% of capital and 1.76% of voting rights. The unions called the Mutual Fund Business (CIPF), which holds 1.33% shares and double voting rights, to say no, and so to endorse the position of the fund Knight Vinke (over 1 % of capital). In total, they would be 4% against the heavyweights Bernard Arnault and Colony Capital, which have 14% stake and 20% of voting rights.According to unions, these operations "purely financial and non-trade" would bring six billion euros to the two main shareholders, Bernard Arnault and Colony Capital.

ALSO READ:

"Crossroads: success of the strike, the talks will resume

"FO sign the draft agreement

The projects of Carrefour upset

"The strike spread to Carrefour Market

"Spain is testing successfully Carrefour Planet

May 11




Cap the accumulated social minimum, establish hours of general utility to the beneficiaries of RSA, increase eligibility for foreigners … the proposals of the European Affairs Minister Laurent Wauquiez, stated on Sunday RMC and BFM TV, raised an outcry among the left and associations.

How does the RSA?

Created in 2009 by Martin Hirsch, then High Commissioner for Active Solidarity, the Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) is divided between an amount of "base" (466.99 euros this year), paid to a person who does not work and the "RSA activity" that complements a low wage. Its amount decreases gradually as the wage increases.

A recipient of the RSA is required to follow the actions of insertion and can not refuse more than two reasonable offers of employment as defined in the custom project.In 2010, 1.8 million people have benefited from the RSA.

What is the maximum amount currently received by a beneficiary?

There is no ceiling to the total tested benefits enshrined in law. But in fact, adding the main aid, some stand out maximum amounts. Thus, by combining the RSA and housing assistance (which varies depending on the rent and the circumstances of the person and can reach 298 euros per month), a single person without children can receive up to 709 euros per month. A couple whose members are inactive can, in turn, affect up to 945 euros per month. This is indeed a sum greater than 75% of net monthly minimum wage (804 euros), which is the maximum threshold of accumulated social minima proposed by Laurent Wauquiez.

But the people receiving the minimum wage have also, entitled to aid, such as housing allowance and a bonus for the job.A couple where one spouse earns the minimum wage can have an income of up to 1400 euros. Is a notable difference from a couple idle up to around 450 euros.

For pensioners, the situation is different: "It is possible that the minimum pension recipients who receive housing assistance affect maximum the same as a couple where one spouse works, says William Allegre, an economist at the OFCE specializes in social policy. At age 65, the problem of work incentives do not arise. The objective is to ensure that society older standard of living above poverty line ".

For these benefits, there are the "rights", very difficult to estimate, which are voluntary aid paid by local authorities.They cover areas as diverse as school meals, transport and access to sports facilities such as swimming.

Where is France?

For fifty years, the share of social benefits in French disposable income has jumped from 16.3% in 1960 to 30.8% in 2009, according to figures from INSEE. However, France is today the average of OECD countries: the main social assistance account for 59% of average earnings. By comparison, they reach 104% in Denmark, 84% Japan 83% in Ireland, Sweden 81% or 63% in Germany.

What would be the consequence of a ceiling on minimum social benefits?

The Minister of European Affairs would "cap the aggregate of all the social minimum to 75% of minimum wage, no more." "Talking cap is like trying to reduce aid," said Guillaume Allègre.But with a current unemployment rate to 9% this financial incentive would be ineffective, according to the Economist: "It would only ensure that the poor are poorer."

View shared by Christopher Noel, a lawyer specializing in labor law: "We know that in most cases, the problem is not economic but personal criteria: they are, for example, women with three or four children, of disabled or people with illnesses. A cap will change nothing but stigmatize the problem part of the population. "

Establish hours of general utility is it realistic?

In consideration of the RSA, Laurent Wauquiez proposes to introduce five hours weekly of general utility. "This is a proposal that raised more questions than it answers, answers Guillaume Allègre. It should create public jobs to oversee this work.In addition, follow a million people could create many administrative problems. " For the economist, between transport costs, any meal vouchers, travel difficulties for people with health problems and management costs, the proposal could be more costly than what it reported.

Master Christopher Noel also fears that the measure is ineffective: a mother or a person with a health problem will always be so difficult to get to work. "If people refuse, is that they remove their social minimum? In this case, is what it will create another minimum, even lower? Guillaume Allègre also questioned.Finally, what activities will be considered public utilities? And why not create public jobs for them? "

Finally, the proposal is largely "symbolic," concludes Guillaume Allegre: "Making lives more difficult for economically inactive people who work are more satisfied."

ALSO READ:

"RSA offended the left, the UMP supports Wauquiez

"RSA: Wauquiez wants a return

Apr 23




Friday on its website, the group Indochina stated in a brief statement: "Despite our numerous reminders, the Eating the Heart did not seem to want to accept the gift of our copyright / composer of the title 3rd Sex present in the album In the Eye of the Enfoirés. The latest installment of the troupe takes effect in two songs of the group, I asked the moon and 3rd Sex.

Nicola Dominique (ex Indochina) and Nicola Sirkis (singer / songwriter current group), assigns the third title Sex, logically had hoped that the revenue generated by exploitation of their titles are completely transferred to Eating the Heart.

Despite several phone calls and e-mails from the group and their label Sony, Eating the Heart never responded to this proposal.The two artists have decided to donate their full entitlements Secours Populaire.

"We find it curious"

The group is now wondering why Restless seem unwilling to accept their donation. "We find it curious. I hope that authors and composers of other songs sung by Enfoirés so do we and pour their rights, "says Nicola Sirkis at Figaro.fr.

The state since their inception Enfoirés donate all the money collected by record sales.But it should be noted that revenues are generated by distributing these songs on television or radio, and SACEM and SDRM, organizations distributions of copyright and reproduction of records, revertants also rights to authors and composers in the number of discs produced.

In the case of Indochina and Enfoirés SACEM will therefore have to distinguish the rights generated by the third song recorded by Gender and Indochina Enfoirés his version of how to distribute income.

Indochina will soon publish on its website the notarial deed certifying the repayment of these rights.EMI Publising, the publisher of the title did not always about him appeared.

Warned not to tracks for recording and 3rd-Sex

We are not asking the moon, the single from last album Enfoirés resumed I asked the moon in Indochina, is a song written by Michael Furnon group Mickey 3D, edited by Louise Attack Editions. Indochina therefore does not receive any rights to this title which, according to our calculations, could generate nearly 250,000 euros of copyright in the version Enfoirés.

Michael Nicola Sirkis Furnon warned of the psychosocial adjustment of this song for the Enfoires. However, no request was made to the group to obtain the right to record the third sex, which are compulsory.

"The third version of Sex by Enfoirés (3, 45 min.)

Apr 14




Achieved. Shaken by the deteriorating situation in Japan's nuclear, the CAC 40 was able to reconnect with the 4000 points in mid-session, after finishing on Tuesday a net decrease of 1.54%, below the psychological threshold. On Wednesday traders try so successful ascent, in the footsteps of Asian markets. The CAC 40 advanced 0.79% to 4,008.04 shortly after midday.

Same trend in London and Frankfurt. After opening in the green, clinching the two exchanges respectively 0.97% and 0.85% in mid-day.

Markets react without panic to the new aftershock of magnitude 5.8 that struck today north-eastern Japan and shook buildings in Tokyo. In addition, they host without the excessive pessimism downward revision of economic forecasts of the archipelago by the government.In a report, it says that the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear disaster that struck the country will impact on a "temporary" consumption and consumer confidence, exports, industrial production and employment. The triple disaster, whose total cost amounts to about $ 300 billion, will require a supplementary budget of 4000 billion yen (33 billion). "The economy, which was improving, experiencing a phase of weakness, because of the consequences of the great earthquake northeast of Japan," says the government.

Gust Statistics

In this context, progress is therefore no euphoria. Especially since many key indicators are expected to analyze both sides of the Atlantic.In France, consumer prices rose 0.8% in France in March from the previous month and one-year inflation accelerated to 2%, show statistics released Wednesday by the INSEE.

In the euro zone industrial production rose 0.4% in February compared to January, when it grew by 0.2%, according to data released Wednesday by the EU statistics office Eurostat.

In the U.S., retail sales and March business inventories for February will be at the rendezvous, like the weekly oil inventories. The Fed's Beige Book will also be particularly scrutinized for 20 hours across the Atlantic.

Side of the oil markets, time is decreasing. Concerned by the level of demand, investors pull down prices.Shortly after noon, a barrel of light sweet crude for May delivery, accounts for 0.29% 106 $ 56.

On the currency markets, the euro rises against the dollar and reappears slightly above $ 1.45.

Total in the viewfinder of S & P

As for values, Alcatel-Lucent (6.16% to 3.997 euros) recorded the largest increase in the CAC 40 to Accor (2.30% to 30.875 euros). Alcatel is supported by an increase of recommendation from Morgan Stanley to overweight value, weighting cons before guaranteed payday loans.

Schneider Electric: + 0.09% to EUR 113

The group has denied this morning to be "currently" in discussions with Tyco International today.The Daily Telegraph announced Tuesday that Schneider Electric had sent a letter in which he showed his interest in an offer of $ 30 billion on Tyco International, from the perspective of giving birth to the world's leading security systems.

Areva: -0.10% to 30.89 euros

The nuclear expert said Wednesday it has won a contract for the installation of a solar thermal concentrator coupled to the coal-fired Kogan Creek, operated by CS Energy in Australia.

Total: + 0.75% to 42.255 euros

Standard and Poor's lowered the long-term credit rating of the oil group to "AA-" cons "AA" previously, with stable outlook.

Casino: -0.80% to 69.76 euros

The group confirmed on Tuesday after its goals have increased sales by 18.8% in first quarter 2011 due to changes in the portfolio in Brazil and Thailand as well as confirmation of the reorganization of Leader Price.

Credit Agricole + 0.26% to 11.73 euros

The bank president, Jean-Marie Sander, said he was confident the group's business in Japan, noting that the country's economy and its banking system remained strong despite the disaster of 11 March.The chairman of the management company of the bank's assets in Japan, Christian Romeyer said his side that the Japanese savings does not seem dramatically affected by the crisis.

Renault: + 1.52% to 38.32 euros

CEO Carlos Ghosn would not "abandon ship" when the false espionage scandal has unsettled the French group, which must now focus on implementing its strategic plan, said in an interview with Les Echos on Wednesday.

JCDecaux: + 0.26% to 23.01 euros

A group of shareholders of Affichage Holding, Geneva company 30% owned by French group, said the board of directors to court for 150 million Swiss francs (115.6 million euros) after an acquisition in Greece resulted in significant losses.

Vinci: + 1.30% to 43.35 euros

Under the contract LGV Bordeaux Tour, the group selected in March 2010 to build and operate this path, calling for several weeks an extension to the original contract of 7.2 billion, according to information of Figaro.

After market, Kaufman & Broad will release its first quarter results, Fleury Michon announce its results for the fourth quarter of 2010 and its turnover in the first quarter of 2011. Cegedim and Etam will publish their results for the fourth quarter and Camaïeu will unveil its turnover in the first quarter.

Apr 10




The unions had already waved the threats late last March. They put their threats into effect, calling all employees hypermarket distribution group to strike on Saturday to protest against including salary increases for 2011, considered insufficient. The appeal, launched by the FGTA-FP, the majority union at Carrefour (with 40% representation), is supported by the CGT, CFDT and CGC.

In total, the 65,000 employees of the French distribution group are known not to work and show around the shops this Saturday, the day the traditional busy in hypermarkets. Early estimates labor, the movement is widely followed in more than 200 superstores supermarket group. Over thirty sites are completely blocked, workers blocking access to supermarkets.Even when they are not blocked, the strike rate range from 30% to 85% as estimated by Dejan Terglav, general secretary of the FO-FGTA reported in the AFP. When contacted, the management of Carrefour has not confirmed those numbers, always carrying an inventory of mobilization.

From yesterday, union officials expected a high rate of mobilization of employees in a group unaccustomed to large-scale social movements. An impression confirmed this morning. "It's a movement that looks quite memorable. It is widely followed, "said Franck Gaulin, Steward central CGT.Jean-Claude Mailly, secretary general of Force Ouvriere (FOR), is expected today at Le Mans to support the movement.

Insufficient wage increase

While management offers its employees a 1% increase in wages to March 1 and another 1% increase on 1 October, union officials estimate that these increases do not cover inflation announced by 2%. "It does in fact represents only 1% over the year," says a leaflet distributed by the FGTA-FO.Even the promise of recovery to 10% (against 7% previously) discounts on purchases of stores, and the announcement of the reopening of negotiations next Wednesday, will not suffice to bring back the union leaders on their decision.

Moreover, the malaise is becoming stronger on the side of employees on the deteriorating conditions of employment and new working methods since the arrival at the head of the group of Swedish Lars Olofsson, in January 2009.

Opposition to the plans of division

While President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday expressed its willingness to link salaries to dividends, the unions could ask for more support for their speeches.For beyond wage increases claimed, employees believe that the demerger proposal by listing the subsidiary Dia hard discount and the 25% of Carrefour Property land would bring six billion euros to the two main shareholders, Bernard Arnault and Colony Capital (14% stake and 20% of voting rights between them).

In the words of Dejan Terglav, secretary general of the FGTA-FO, reported in Les Echos this Friday, the organization also wants the Mutual Fund Business (CIPF) 'vote against the division (during the next meeting June 21 di ed.) CIPF owns approximately 1.33% of the shares but the double voting rights "said the union leader. Bringing to nearly 4% the number of shareholders opposed the project, with the fund Knight Vinke (more than 1% of capital).But for now insufficient to meet a third of votes needed to derail the project.

ALSO READ:

"Carrefour France faces the discontent of certain employees

"Carrefour is considering the future of his hard discount

"The new hub is delayed

»New turbulence surrounding the division of Carrefour

Mar 30




The market Osram, the lighting is changing. Environmental concerns have indeed led authorities in Europe and particularly France, to decide the phasing out traditional incandescent bulbs. In France, only those under 60 watts are still allowed to sell, but their disappearance is already scheduled for December 31, 2012.

Our good old incandescent lamps are replaced by low consumption lamps, said compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and halogen "single pellet", that is to say the same shape as traditional bulbs no faxing 1 hour payday loans. "Today the market is largely dominated by these alternatives," said Antoine Gachet, an analyst at the marketing institute GfK. In 2005, incandescent bulbs still accounted for more than three-quarters of the market by volume. Last year, they weighed more than 36%. "

Mar 13




After opening down, Wall Street back into positive territory on Friday. The Dow Jones gained 0.16% to 12,003 points, the S & P 500 ahead 0.50% to 1302 points and the Nasdaq rose 0.33% to 2710 points. Caution remains appropriate. Investors fear the consequences of the earthquake that hit Japan last night. Bad news that comes on top of disappointing indicators released Thursday and the tensions that persist in Libya.

Oil continues to unwind

These concerns, however, help to relax the price of oil which opened Friday down $ 3.05, passing below the 100 dollars to 99.65 dollars exactly.

On the macroeconomic front, retail sales in the U.S. rose 1.0% in February from January, as analysts anticipated, according to figures released Friday in Washington by the Department of Commerce.

U.S. consumer confidence fell in March, according to an index released Friday by the University of Michigan, which was 68.2 against 77.5 the previous month.

Restocking of manufacturing firms and corporations increased 0.9% compared to December in the U.S., according to figures released Friday by the Washington Department of Trade and rather good news for the U.S. GDP.This increase is slightly greater than the median forecast of analysts who gave 0.8%.

AIG: -0.49% to 36 low fee pay day loans.30 dollars

The insurer American International Group said on Thursday to buy back $ 15.7 billion in cash (11.4 billion) of mortgage assets that the U.S. government had recovered during the financial crisis through the bailout group.

National Semiconductor: 3.88% to 14.71 dollars

National Semiconductor has published an annual turnover less than expected for the third quarter of fiscal year due to destocking at its distributors, but its forecast of sales growth for the current quarter is in line with expectations .

Clearwire: -1.74% to 5.65 dollars

The Clearwire CEO Bill Morrow has resigned as part of a wider reshuffle at the head of the wireless network operator, amid difficulties to finance its investments and dispute between the group and its majority shareholder Sprint Nextel.

Chevron: 0.64% to 99.71 dollars

Chevron announced the sale of its refinery in Pembroke, Great Britain, for 730 million dollars U.S. refiner Valero. The latter said in a separate release that the acquisition would be accretive to its earnings immediately, adding that the transaction should be finalized in the third quarter.

Apple: +0.41% to 348.09 dollars

Apple launches this Friday the marketing of the new version of its iPad tablet.

Mar 9




Iliad exceeds all market expectations. The provider of Internet access reported on Wednesday a turnover of 313.1 million euros in 2010, up 78% and well above the 288 million consensus estimate of analysts. The EBITDA jumped 20.7% to 798.1 million euros (above the expected 773 million) while sales gained 4.3% to 2.038 billion euros. Free cash flow for the ADSL business has emerged up 33% in 2010 to 435.5 million euros.

The most notable of the past year is the rapid recovery of Alice in restructuring since its acquisition in August 2008 to Telecom Italia.The subsidiary has seen a further erosion of its subscriber base in 2010 (565.000 in 2010 against 678,000 in 2009) and a decrease in sales (-16.7%) but its profitability has improved throughout the exercise in favor of a policy of cost reductions initiated last two years. Alice has contributed positively to EBITDA of up to 83 million euros.

The group will propose a dividend of 0.40 euro per share for 2010, against 0.37 euros for 2009.

Outlook confirmed

Based on these results, Iliad confirmed its objectives for short and medium term. The group, owner of Free, has a cumulative free cash flow of over 1.1 billion euros between 2010 and 2012, including Alice. Turnover is also expected to double by 2015.

Side operational objectives, Iliad expects a coverage of 4 million households in the fiber optic end of 2012 and 100,000 subscribers to fiber optics by the end of the year. The timing of the launch of the mobile offering is also confirmed for next year. The ISP, which just signed a partnership with Orange, plans to cover 27% of the French population with its own network by January 2012.

ALSO READ:

"Free is preparing a" major innovation "for its Freebox

Jan 26




A week after being suspended due to software piracy, the European Climate Exchange will not start to a trickle on Wednesday. The platform for exchanges of Paris, Bluenext, which handles about 40% of carbon credits exchanged for cash in the European Union, will not reopen, nor ECX London. Bluenext expects the market to be officially served the securities that were stolen last week. For it is a theft committed by breaking computer, this time, tarnish the CO2 market established in 2005, already tarnished last year by a wide VAT fraud.

On 19 January, a broker Czech warned the European Commission, coordinator of the market, 475,000 carbon credits, worth $ 6.3 million, had disappeared from his account.In total, according to Brussels, 2 million licenses (worth nearly EUR 30 million) were stolen by hackers from the registers Czech, Austrian and Greek.

The some 12,000 industrial sites in Europe subject to emission quotas of carbon dioxide (CO2) are enrolled in national registries. Companies that exceed their quotas can buy carbon credits (one credit = 1 tonne of carbon) while companies can sell virtuous.

"Restoring confidence"

Other actors, brokers, banks or even individuals can open an account on the register to exchange carbon credits for cash or futures (derivatives market) on various platforms like Bluenext. Protections computer half a dozen records are inadequate, found in Brussels."The Commission is finalizing the definition of minimum safety levels," said Peter Zapfel, Directorate General for Climate Action best payday advance. In France, Caisse des Depots et Consignations (CDC) is the keeper of the register, which, say several sources, was not attacked. "The market is shaken" by this new case, recognizes Keiron Allen, director of marketing for Bluenext, all players must restore confidence. " "But we must not forget that it works and it helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gas emissions," he adds.

Today, each tonne of carbon Virtual European market is identified by a serial number.A warning system would alert the brokers when loans are subject to suspicious transactions could be generalized, suggests there be in Bluenext.

Still in its infancy, the Exchange of CO2 must start its third phase in 2013, where the credits will no longer be allocated initially free but sold at auction. Brussels plans to bring together the twenty-seven national records in a single, more secure.

"If there is a market to watch, where the risk exists of Far West is that of CO2," warned last month Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the president of the Financial Markets Authority (AMF). That is why in the coming weeks Bluenext will officially become a regulated market, overseen by the AMF.

ALSO READ:

"Jouyet to avoid the Wild West on the carbon market

Born in 2005, the CO2 market already attracts speculators

Jan 20




On 27 December, which was not the surprise of Albert Uderzo, Asterix father with René Goscinny, receive a letter from the tax authorities by subjecting it to a recovery of 203,000 euros. Reason, the IRS does not consider that the co-author of Asterix, but the "mere illustrator" the adventures of the Gauls. And this affects the amount of tax.

At 84 years, Albert Uderzo did not support that "the IRS decides to treat me just as the illustrator of Asterix and submit me back to January 2007 to a recovery of 20% on all amounts reported on the rights from these twenty-four albums. Why this injustice? After fifty-one years of loyal service, now that I am withdrawing the right to be an author. " To him, more than money, it's a matter of principle.

Having already been the subject of three controls did nothing, "the IRS attacks me arguing that being an illustrator is a" professional non-commercial, "he says. I know in the profession, it is not a first. Jacques Tardi had the same problems as me guaranteed online payday loans. "

This is not so much the financial aspect of the case Uderzo embarrassment that "the brutality and lack of respect with which, fifty-one years after the creation of Asterix, the tax authorities to wake up and deny me the right be the co-author of my dear little Gaul. That's a disqualification that I no longer accept at my age! I hired a lawyer specializing in tax law and I will fight again! "

Counsel Emmanuel Pierrat, legal expert and author who published a book on the beneficiaries, did not say anything. "It's absurd!, Says he.Even if I do not know the record, I am frankly puzzled! It is clear that there has always been a dichotomy between law and social security, copyright and tax law, composed of texts dating nonsense rhymes sometimes the nineteenth century. Until there has been no harmonization between these laws remain such nonsense. Consider Albert Uderzo is not the co-author of Asterix, this does not hold water. It almost seems that a tax auditor at Bercy do not like comics! ".

« Previous Entries Next Entries »