International Headlines and Stories

At Air France, social negotiations enter the heart of the matter. Thursday, at a central works council, the CEO of the company, Alexander Juniac, will unveil its industrial plan for the next three years. Air France, a lot of competitiveness, will not give any activity, but all will be involved in the effort. The low-cost group, Transavia, should be expanded and take some leisure destinations of Air France. The long haul should seek to cut costs – especially in economy class – and improve its services "business." The cargo should reduce the number of devices that are fully dedicated. Maintenance costs and reduce its rates to remain competitive

.

Overall objective on which management and unions agreed last March: lower costs by 20%, excluding fuel. "There are in the business awareness on the situation of the company, confided mid-April the President of the Air France KLM, Jean-Cyril Spinetta. This is no longer debate. Everyone understands the need to act. "For Air France employees, it will mean two things: an increase of working time – key point of the renegotiation of all enterprise agreements – but also job cuts.

On this last point is highly sensitive, time calculations has officially not yet come. The company officials are sticking to the schedule already announced: it's the end of June they will detail the steps taken to refine the silhouette of a sustainable business. Reportedly, the total job cuts expected to reach 5,000 jobs by 2015, without layoffs.

Measures open for the first time pilots

Air France account first, as in the past, the attrition of employees not replaced to trim down. Each year, 800 people leave the company. Their failure to replace three consecutive years will result in 2,400 fewer positions.

In addition, a voluntary separation plan to double the number of cuts to achieve end to 5000 jobs. The pace will be accelerated significantly payday loans for bad credit. Past three years, Air France has quietly defatted its workforce of 4,000 positions, including 1,800 voluntary redundancies as part already, a plan launched in 2009.

But this time, Air France will go further: the separation plan will be open to all categories of staff: hostesses and stewards, ground staff and … drivers. A first.

In 4000 Air France pilots, we should indeed find candidates initially. Since the age of retirement has been pushed back 65 years later, the age group over 55, or 590 people, could find an interest to receive an incentive that would allow them to leave the company earlier .

"Pilots who work for twenty-five to thirty years in the business could benefit from the maximum bonus," said a company pilot. According to figures from Air France, at least 500 pilots over twenty-five years of seniority at the counter. The French pilots who see their colleagues KLM to retire at age 57 and those of British Airways to 54 say they are such a measure would repair an injustice.

As for other staff, several trade unions, as Unac, majority among hostesses and stewards (PNC), have put their requirements last week.  

"If, despite the alternatives of preserving jobs, negotiations on the restructuring of Air France" transform15 ", led the company to make a collective redundancy plan affecting PNC, then we would negotiate an alternative to the criteria of a dismissals under the Labour Code with priority call for volunteers and incentive fees at the start, "said Frank Mikula of Unac.

"We can not afford to keep people made redundant, an executive summary of the Air France-KLM. Better to pay them not to keep. We will calibrate the plan to get a return on investment after two years. "

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Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

The decline in unemployment in the U.S. in March to 8.2% against 8.3%, not fooling anyone. The labor market has actually worsened last month. He created only 120,000 jobs, almost twice less than expected. The favorable review of the February numbers limited to just disappointment. As also those of January proved slightly worse.

According to the Labour Department, the private sector hired only 121,000 people in March, when he was recruited 233,000 people in February. The service sector is the main troublemaker with only 90,000 new jobs, against 204,000 the previous month. Yet on the increase for months, temporary jobs have vanished completely. The new posts have also declined significantly in the transport and independent professionals. In trade and distribution, staff reductions have accelerated.

Even more disturbing was the drop in unemployment is largely due to the cessation of 164,000 job seekers find work. Out of the workforce, they are no longer counted as unemployed.

Misleading effect of a mild winter

Some analysts believe that these figures, on the whole disappointing, confirming the misleading effect of the warm temperatures of winter. We have attributed the relatively strong hiring in December to cyclical factors, while the mild winter would have been an essential support activity. The explanation is not fully convincing because in the construction sector most sensitive to climatic hazards, the trend since February has not changed: the job cuts are modest between 6000 and 7000.

Wall Street will react Monday that these disappointing data, because U.S. markets are closed for Good Friday. The debate on the need for the Federal Reserve, to reconnect with exceptional measures to stimulate the supply of credit is restarted. It had been thought earlier in the week, however, that the continued expansion in industry and services in March, according to the ISM index, the Fed had converted to the wait. If job creation in April again proved mediocre, the U.S. central bank may reconsider the option to buy Treasury bonds to further lower interest rates long term.

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"A woman absolute," "a completely different girl who really won in serenity" (agent). Words do not fail to salute the comeback of Laure Manaudou who just qualified for the Olympic Games in London. Despite a break of over two years which has enabled him to become a mom, swimmer who joined the club last fall swimmers of Marseille, confirmed her comeback to the front of the stage.

His former sponsors are silent

His performances have not gone unnoticed on the part of sponsors. Two years after being dropped by his former partners – Lancel, EDF, Arena … – Laure Manaudou has signed a two year contract with Reebok * to be for the next two years and its supplier, the Ambassador Program crossfit (fitness) that the brand sponsors. The former protected by Philippe Lucas will also sign another four-year contract with a company whose name will be announced after the championships of France. Many companies that will join Cadum (shower products) and Aubert (Juvenile) in the list of sponsors of the swimmer. "We are not on the same amounts with Lancel, Arena or EDF, but these are fine contracts that prove that Laura still interested brands," says Jean-François Salessy, his new agent since last October.

The latter even said last November in Paris-Today in France, "he could never have the money she had with Poulmaire (his former agent). I have no strategy and the economic context is no longer the same. Today, companies do not sign checks over his eyes closed. " After signing a "big" check with Lancel in 2008, its annual revenues were $ 2.5 million. "For other sponsors, I do not close any doors. Laura can not remain confined to sectors related to her status as mother or luxury, "explains Jean-François Salessy. None of his former sponsors have taken the time to contact her. Probably they are waiting to see if Laura will perform at the London Olympics. "I find it disconcerting that there are so few brands that benefit it is also inexpensive to create a" story "with her, said Gilles Dumas, co-founder of Sportlab, sports marketing specialist. Brands lack boldness. "

The French do not forget

Returned to the front of the sports scene, Laure Manaudou will however have to learn to manage his star status. She has done a lot about her on social networking yesterday after his "misadventure" on Twitter. "This is a non-event, says Jean-François Salessy. It has proved that, unlike some sports, it does not live in a bubble. Laura was certainly awkward on some terms she used. We talked about it. But it was steady and did not need a "community manager". " And Gilles Dumas added: "Brands must agree with Laure Manaudou, there will be some" jerks ", as with Eric Cantona in his time. These are the vagaries of modern sponsorship. "

Sometimes regretted not being a person "normal and anonymous," Laure Manaudou remains for many a sports icon. "Laure Manaudou will perhaps not be Olympic champion in London but the athlete is the most anticipated and one that will be the most observed," said Gilles Dumas. Which is not always easy to manage, including his agent. "It is sometimes surprised by the extent of its popularity, says Jean-François Salessy. My goal is to show a French Laure Manaudou as natural as possible and get out of his bubble "people". " In the latest ranking of favorite sporting the French published in January by The Team, swimmer Rhone ranked seventh and the second … for sport.

* Signed before the championships of France, this contract will not be broken even if Laure Manaudou had to stop swimming

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After Greece, out of bankruptcy risk through the release of a second bailout of 130 billion euros, it was Spain who finds himself in the crosshairs of the Eurogroup, meeting on Monday evening in Brussels. The Spanish finance minister will have to explain on the skids deficits Spanish before his peers, the European Commission and the ECB President.

The prime minister, Mariano Rajoy, had a surprise, on March 2, alongside the European Council, stating that Spain would build his 2012 budget with a deficit target of 5.8% of GDP, while that agreed with the EU was 4.4%, to reach 3% of GDP deficit in 2013.

The market reaction was not long in coming. Following this, the cost of borrowing from Spain to 10 years jumped to nearly 5% more than for the first time in months, that of Italy. Guardian of the future "fiscal pact", the European Commission ordered a "serious blunder", brandished the threat of financial sanctions and sent experts to Madrid to assess the fiscal situation. Last year, the Spanish public deficit soared more than expected to reach 8.51% of GDP in late 2011.

Threat of sanctions

"There is no questioning of objectives," says the Spanish Minister of Economy, Luis De Guindos, in an interview Sunday on ABC newspaper. "Spain is a loyal member of the EU who feels bound by the European fiscal rules," he says.

Engaged in a very severe austerity measures, faces a general strike in late March because of its reform of the labor market, Spain is weighed down by losses of its regions, which have slipped to 2.9% of GDP against only 1.3% under-the Madrid region meets its objectives, which weighs heavily on central government accounts.

Barely out of the Greek crisis, "the euro area can not afford a new speculative attack," recalls one in Brussels. The Commission will ask the government to submit a plan "credible" to bring deficits to 3% in 2013, implying a say in Brussels on the draft budget 2012 Spanish.

Monday night, finance ministers from the euro area will give the green light to launch the second program of aid to Greece. Of 130 billion euros, the IMF should be involved up to 18 billion, said Christine Lagarde.

Even the Germans say they are reassured about the situation in Greece. "I am confident that the measures taken hard by the Greek government will put the country on the road to recovery," said German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, unwilling to speculate on a third plan to help … To parry , the European Central Bank will continue its buybacks of bonds on the secondary market, ensures Coeuré Benedict, a member of the Executive Board of the ECB to Japanese newspaper Nikkei.

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After two years of strong gains and at times breathtaking, the property prices have stalled throughout France in late 2011. This real slowdown was reflected in the fourth quarter by a stable house prices (+0.1%), according to INSEE statistics, released Thursday. And over one year, prices have increased by "only" 4.3% on average (6.7% for apartments and 2.6% for houses), after increasing 8.5% in 2010 .

However, in the Ile-de-France, the most populated region of France, the annual price increases remained spectacular. It reached 10.6% on average in the départements (small and large crown). And 14.7% in central Paris (after a surge of 17.5% in 2010!). In the capital, house prices have reached new highs in the fourth quarter, with an average price per square meter to 8,390 euros, according to the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France.

In seven out of twenty arrondissements, prices even exceed the symbolic threshold of 10,000 euros per square meter. Certain transac-tions go far beyond. On the Champs-Elysees, a 150 m2 apartment has been sold 40,000 euros per square meter in 2011! This new outbreak is partly explained by the low number of Parisian apartments sold (down 14% in the fourth quarter versus the same period of 2010), note notaries. But, "it seems that the trees reach the sky," warns Christian Lefebvre, president of the Chamber of Notaries of Paris-Ile de France, noting a change in trend at the end of last year one hour payday loan. "Over the last three months of 2011, prices are almost stable and in Paris (0.2%). In nine districts, they even declined, "says Thierry Delesalle, notary in Paris.

A correction of 5 to 10% expected

This small market downturn continued in the early years, as evidenced by the preliminary contracts signed in January 8250 euros per square meter on average, according to the Chamber of Notaries. Same thing in other towns in Ile-de-France, where prices began to fall slightly in the fourth quarter of 2011 (-0.7% in the inner suburbs and outer suburbs -0.9%).

"For the first time in years," the Paris notaries anticipate a price decline of 5 to 10% across the region, Paris included. "But this break with the long bull cycle will only be sustainable if new construction is accelerating sustainable in Ile-de-France for several years," they warn. In the rest of France, prices are expected to experience the same slope. Fnaim and notaries as well expect a correction of 5 to 15% on average this year. While some banks have tightened their credit terms and that many households are less confident in their future professionals expect lower sales. Especially since many French have anticipated in late 2011 several devices (PTZ + in the old, lower benefits Scellier …): 828,000 sales have been made between October 2010 and September 2011. High numbers, up 12% year on year.

Finished playing. The High Authority for the dissemination of works and protection of rights on the Internet (Hadopi) has started to send their records to justice. They relate to users who have been singled three times for illegal downloading of music, movies or television series. They are part of the 2 to 4 million French who consume 80% of the bandwidth of the Hexagon, as estimated by the French Federation of Telecom.

Failing to respond to warnings of Internet Piracy, these users will now have to answer for their acts before a police court. Guilty of "failure to monitor Internet access," they risk a fine of up to 1500 euros. In addition, the judge may request a break from their Internet access for a month at most.

Less than 165 files concerned

Potentially, this is less than 165 records are concerned. This is indeed the number of cases examined at the end of December 2011, the Commission for Protection of Rights (CDP) of the Hadopi. The latter calls the Internet before deciding repeat the referral of their case in court. These cases represent a fraction of the 822,000 users who received a first warning of Internet Piracy since October 2010. Email, they are warned that their "Internet access has been used to commit acts, recognized by the minutes, which may constitute a criminal offense." In this case, "to make available, reproduce or access to cultural works protected by copyright."

Exactly 68,343 of these users have been a second warning of Hadopi, sent by registered letter. And it was only after having been caught out a third time that people are summoned by the CDP. Of the 165 offenders, some users were not presented. And therefore even more likely to have to explain himself before a judge.

Credibility issue

The Hadopi declined to specify the number of cases sent to court same day payday loans. It is also not a finite process but a sending "streaming" to the floors of residential Internet users. It also did not specify the profile of these offenders diligent, their case is now within the justice.

One thing is certain, however: Hadopi sent "folders better built," says a source close to the administrative authority. In other words, the Hadopi hope the case will result in a sanction forwarded copy. For this first salvo justify ultimately the validity of the Hadopi system and graduated response, challenged by the Socialist candidate for president, Francois Hollande. "We have always said that the credibility of the device based on a combination of education and punishment," said Roger and Jerome, Director General of UPFI (Union of French independent record producers). Transferring records to justice "is therefore part of the normal implementation of graduated response," said the representative of independent producers.

The Hadopi has taken the time to tie up his files before proceeding to the final stage. "For several months it is about 100 to 150 files ready to be sent for trial in our discussions with Internet Piracy," says one well among beneficiaries. "The third phase, we will be very cautious. Our goal is not to refer as many people in court, "had also warned Marie-Françoise Marais, president of Internet Piracy, last June, when the" Media Buzz Orange-Le Figaro ", citing" a number relatively small "folders. Their fate is now in the hands of justice.

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The absolute independence of the European Central Bank vis-à-vis the policy preventing him from speaking. Mario Draghi has openly acknowledged Thursday: "I received a few minutes ago a call from the Greek prime minister said an agreement had been reached and endorsed by the major parties," said President of the ECB at its monthly press conference in Frankfurt. Thus he was able to announce before everyone else – maybe a little too quickly, given the float that followed in Athens – the good news entrusted to him by Lucas Papademos, the former vice President of the ECB.

But, according to the principle that it is easier to comment on the affairs of others than on his own, he refused to say clearly that the ECB may decide to reduce the debt of Athens, parallel commercial banks: "We are not part of negotiations. But what we hear is that the parts are pretty close to agreement. "

"Prohibited by the European treaties"

Pressed with questions, the successor to Jean-Claude Trichet ended up giving the key to participation of the ECB program "voluntary" Burden Reduction. "If the ECB redistributes some of its profits to the Member States of the ECB … it's not on monetary financing (public debt, which is prohibited by the European treaties), "he dropped. Clearly, it confirms one of the options that have been circulating for a week: the ECB could leave the unrealized gains on its purchase of Greek bonds. Which is approximately 12 billion, knowing that the bonds were acquired on the market at a discount and would be repaid at their face value at maturity.

By hiding again behind the texts prohibiting the bailout States, Mario Draghi shows the difficulty of his task. "The time is long when monetary policy was limited to setting interest rates. Since the debt crisis, the ECB must navigate waters very political, "says economist of a major French bank.

Inflation above the 2%

Monetary field itself, new relaxations are in any case by no means excluded. "Inflation should remain above 2% during the next few months, before falling back below 2%," said Mario Draghi. He worries more than ever a dry supply of bank credit: "We are actually concerned about the slowdown in the credit."

This is why the Governing Council decided to relax the rules on eligibility of collateral (securities pledged as collateral) that commercial banks have to raise cash. These conditions are changed to "temporarily" for seven national central banks, including Bank of France. "Residential real estate loans to individuals are eligible," said a statement released yesterday afternoon in Paris, which lists the technical conditions.

On a neighbor, Mario Draghi provides that the next issue of liquidity to three years, to be held on February 29, could be done "over the range of the previous operation of this type." The banks had obtained, 22 December 2011, 489 billion and 1% over three years.

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