Benjamin Lucas: “Companies must learn to be accountable to public authorities and the French people”

Faced with the increasing number of layoff plans in the country, the parliamentarian, who sits on the Green and Socialist group, has investigated the state's passivity and the greed of employers. He calls for strengthening the power of unions and is considering the creation of a high authority to monitor public aid.

Faced with the loss of employment, including in key economic sectors, how do you think government action should evolve?

The criteria for redundancy must absolutely be reviewed so that matters are examined at the group level and not at the level of a single factory. Furthermore, it is necessary to quickly define what constitutes safeguarding competitiveness, the contours of which are unclear. And the public administration must have the right to review the procedure from the outset to assess the economic reason for the redundancy.

Today, judicial oversight is at the very end of the procedure. In the event of a job protection plan, elected officials should also have a suspensive veto. We constantly talk about the value of work: let's revalue workers by giving more power to their representatives! I therefore propose doubling the number of employee directors. Furthermore, it is necessary to better regulate collective termination agreements and strengthen the cooperative business model.

Are you advocating for the creation of a body, beyond the Ministries of Labor and Economy?

I am considering proposing a high authority to monitor public aid . It could suspend aid, require its repayment, and demand transparency. It would be composed of representatives from unions, employers, and local elected officials. Often, a company that pays dividends to shareholders has the means to invest. I am not saying that an automatic rule is needed; because paying dividends is a way of finding investors. But as soon as profits are distributed, we must consider whether or not there is a need for public aid.

In this context, I also propose the establishment of a permanent commission on public aid to businesses . This way, when the budget is examined, the national representation will have a look at what has been done. Even if we did not provide aid, businesses benefit from employees trained in a quality public school, hospitals that treat occupational illnesses, road infrastructure, and public authorities to tackle climate change. Business management must learn to be accountable to the public authorities and the French people.

What do you remember from your discussions with the unionists?

Great courage. I support the idea that the commission can be a platform for trade unionists. I appreciate their extensive expertise on the situation and the economy in general. The hearings confirm the need for employee representatives to have a say in strategic choices.

Because, in the months preceding a layoff plan, there is systematically an alert from union organizations about the company's strategy. The way in which worker representatives and employees can intervene in the strategic orientations of groups seems to me to be an important project. Due to management turnover, union members who have been there for thirty years are often those who know the work tool best.

Is it the role of the left to examine French capitalism?

More than just examining it, the role of the left is to regulate and confront French capitalism when necessary. Otherwise, what's the point of the left? What's at stake right now is our social contract. The current discourse is about eliminating public services because of debt.

At the same time, there is no control over public aid. What is at stake is our ability to co-operate. Furthermore, it is imperative to equip ourselves with the capacity to temporarily nationalize companies in strategic sectors. This is not the only solution, but in a negotiation, the person you are facing must know that you can go so far as to deprive them of their means of production.

What have you learned from the bosses?

During the hearing, I found people opposite me who were nonchalant, even though we were talking about employees, human lives, and territories. I distinguish between the big capitalists, shareholders, and the real business leaders who fight alongside employees. Some bosses had a kind of contempt for parliamentarians, complaining about having to answer. But a job seeker must justify to an advisor that they are looking for work. When you are a boss, it is normal to come before Parliament from time to time.