Professional Equality: Dialogue of the deaf between feminists and government

Feminists reprise the struggle by seeking the re-establishment of the “report of comparable situations” between salaried men and women, withdrawn by the bill entitled “Social Dialogue”. They believe that employment minister, François Rebsamen, failed to keep his promises. Following a big demonstration, he assured “all concerns and doubts will be addressed” regarding the issue. Well, according to the group, the bill, put to the vote 20 May, does not specifically re-establish negotiations over equality. It also notes “sanctions do not apply in the state”. The group composed of activist groups, unions and politicians, launched a petition amassing over 40,000 signatures. “We are now going to address the deputies: they cannot allow the passage of a bill which relegates professional equality to the second division”, warn the feminists.