The start of the new school year swept away by a historic strike in the United States. Battered by the pandemic and frustrated by their employers' profits, tens of thousands of American workers have taken strike action this autumn, demanding better working conditions. From factories to film sets, hospitals and the catering industry, these "Great Resignation" movements, supported by a fringe of the Democratic camp, are affecting all sectors. And they could well inspire neighbouring countries. We take a closer look.
What happened?
Strikes have been piling up in the United States for several weeks now. Since Thursday, 10,000 employees of tractor manufacturer John Deere have left their factories to take to the streets. This action joins those of 1,500 workers employed by cereal giant Kellogg's in Pennsylvania and 2,000 nurses at Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, New York, who are demanding better working conditions.
Other sectors could in turn swell the ranks of strikers. Some 31,000 employees of the Kaiser Permanente healthcare group are preparing to stop work shortly in California. Anger is also spreading to Hollywood studios, where some crews were preparing to leave filming before a last-minute agreement was reached on working conditions.
As disparate as they are, these strikes, supported by the left wing of the Democrats behind the hashtag #Striketober, are demanding, depending on the sector, new recruitment, higher wages or, for some, "a guarantee that their jobs will not be relocated", explains Marie-Christine Bonzom, political scientist, journalist and specialist on the United States.
In what context?
Strikes may have intensified in recent weeks, but employees' frustrations are nothing new. "The pandemic was the trigger, but the dissatisfaction goes back a long way. It concerns low wages, company profits and the complicated access to social security, which depends on the employer", notes Nicole Bacharan, a historian specialising in the United States and author of "The Great Days that Changed America".
The end of the health crisis has seen an unprecedented wave of resignations. 4.3 million Americans have quit their jobs since August, according to data from the Department of Labour quoted by the Washington Post. This figure rises to more than 20 million if we count those who have left since April. For the most part, these departures have been in the sales and hospitality sectors, in jobs that are hard-working and often poorly paid.
All in all, the pandemic has reshuffled the deck for many workers. In all, 10 million jobs are thought to be unfilled across the country. A considerable lever for those about to hang up their boots. "Since employers can't find anyone to take on, employees are in a good position to negotiate pay rises or better status", Marie-Christine Bonzom points out.
What role for trade unions?
In decline since the late 1960s, trade unions now seem to be making a comeback in the country. President Joe Biden has made it one of his priorities to ensure that their rights are respected and to give them back their power. To date, the country has 11 % union members among its workers. A rate that is "low, but no higher than in France", notes Nicole Bacharan. Proof that the social struggle is gaining ground, employees of major firms such as Starbucks and Amazon have even tried to set up their own union in recent months. Sometimes in vain.
After all, trade union rights are radically different from those in France. "In France, union negotiations take place mainly on a sector-by-sector basis via collective agreements. Over there, everything is decided at company level, unit by unit. The right to join a union depends on a vote within the company", Marie-Christine Bonzom sums up.
While few Americans campaign for their rights, many do support the movement. "In the collective imagination, it's hard to associate the United States with the trade union struggle. But the unions have become much more popular in recent years. This support is now helping them to negotiate", points out Nicole Bacharan.
A domino effect?
Multiple strikes, a wave of resignations, a series of renegotiations... The movement of social anger and the labour shortage now extend beyond American borders. Germany is short of 400,000 skilled workers, according to Bloomberg. Similarly, China is reportedly facing mass resignations, with the emergence of a new generation of workers "disenchanted by prospects and put off by relatively low wages", notes the Washington Post.
For its part, France has been struggling for several months to recruit in the catering sector. Without talking about a worldwide strike, these successive observations testify to a "strong aspiration for better working conditions", according to Nicole Bacharan, for whom these mobilisations could lead to others. However, there is a nuance on the other side of the Atlantic: "For Americans, personal fulfilment cannot be detached from the value of work and professional success. In other words, strikes can happen on the spot, and the 35-hour week is not for tomorrow..." breathes Nicole Bacharan.
Text by le parisien.fr By Marie Campistron
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