The main trade unions in the energy sector have called for a national day of strike action on September 15 to protest the proposed reform of the "employee tariff," a benefit that allows employees and retirees of electricity and gas companies to receive preferential rates on electricity and gas. This mobilization comes after the publication of a report by the Court of Auditors, which considers this system to represent an "excessive cost" for EDF and calls for its reform.
According to the financial jurisdiction, this benefit in kind represented over €700 million for the EDF group in 2024. It also emphasizes that maintaining it after retirement generates social obligations estimated at €3,9 billion. The government is now considering revising the terms of this benefit to comply with the recommendations of the Court of Auditors, a change that should be formalized by a future ministerial decree.
The unions denounce a challenge to the status of electricians
The four representative federations in the sector (CGT, CFE-CGC, CFDT, and FO) denounce an attack on a long-standing benefit of the electricity and gas workers' status. They argue that this advantage compensates for pay levels that are sometimes lower than those in other sectors and point out that it applies to employees of EDF as well as those of Enedis, GRDF, Engie, and local distribution companies.
The Court of Auditors recommends gradually reducing this benefit, notably by capping the energy volumes eligible for the preferential tariff and reassessing its tax and social security treatment. It estimates that beneficiaries currently pay less than 2% of the average tariffs paid by consumers, an assessment disputed by unions. For its part, the government maintains that it intends to undertake this reform within the framework of social dialogue, while EDF management reiterates that the employee tariff remains an important element of the social contract to which employees remain particularly attached.
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