How pay is settled when nobody negotiates it alone.
Practise this list
From these 28 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Twentieth on this list is l’extension de la convention, and it is the entry an English reader will get wrong with the most confidence. Print « the agreement has been extended » in a newspaper and everybody understands that it now runs for longer: the expiry date has slipped back and the two sides have bought themselves time. The French phrase does nothing of the kind. It widens the circle instead of lengthening the calendar. A branch agreement signed by an employers’ federation binds only the firms that belong to it; once the labour ministry publishes an arrêté d’extension, the same text binds every firm in the sector, including those that never joined anything and never sent anybody to the table. What grows is the number of people covered, and the end date stays exactly where it was. When French really does want more time, it changes the noun and says la prolongation. Keep the right picture in mind — a fence moved outwards, not a clock turned back — and the entry straight after this one, on how far an agreement reaches, reads as its natural consequence.
L’offre patronale reste toujours en dessous de la revendication.The employers’ offer never comes close to what the union first asked for.
l’obligation de paix socialethe peace obligationNoun (f)C2
L’obligation de paix sociale interdit la grève tant que le texte court.As long as the agreement is in force, the peace obligation rules out industrial action.
la dénonciation de la conventionthe termination of the agreementNoun (f)C2
La dénonciation de la convention rouvre toute la discussion.After the termination of the agreement, every clause is open to argument again.
la grève d’avertissementthe warning strikeNoun (f)C2
La grève d’avertissement ne dure que quelques heures.A warning strike is usually over by lunchtime.
la grève illimitéethe all-out strikeNoun (f)C2
La grève illimitée commence après un vote des adhérents.Members have to vote before an all-out strike can go ahead.
la caisse de grèvethe strike fundNoun (f)C2
La caisse de grève décide de la durée possible.How long the walkout can last is a question for the strike fund.
la recommandation du conciliateurthe conciliator’s recommendationNoun (f)C2
La recommandation du conciliateur ne lie personne.Either side is free to reject the conciliator’s recommendation.
la hausse par paliersthe staged increaseNoun (f)C2
La hausse par paliers étale l’effort sur la durée.A staged increase spreads the cost across the life of the deal.
la prime exceptionnellethe one-off paymentNoun (f)C2
La prime exceptionnelle ne compte pas pour la retraite.A one-off payment adds nothing to anybody’s pension.
la durée de la conventionthe term of the agreementNoun (f)C2
La durée de la convention se négocie autant que le montant.The term of the agreement is fought over as hard as the percentage.
la clause de dérogationthe opt-out clauseNoun (f)C2
La clause de dérogation permet à une entreprise de s’écarter du texte.An opt-out clause lets a struggling firm depart from the sector agreement.
la convention collective d’entreprisethe company agreementNoun (f)C2
La convention collective d’entreprise ne vaut que dans cette maison.A company agreement applies to one employer and to no other.
la convention collective de branchethe sector-wide agreementNoun (f)C2
La convention collective de branche couvre tout un secteur.A sector-wide agreement sets the terms for an entire industry.
l’extension de la conventionthe extension of the agreementNoun (f)C2
L’extension de la convention l’impose aussi aux non-adhérents.With the extension of the agreement, firms outside the federation are bound as well.
la couverture conventionnellecollective-agreement coverageNoun (f)C2
La couverture conventionnelle recule dans les petites entreprises.Collective-agreement coverage keeps shrinking among small firms.
la cogestionco-determinationNoun (f)C2
La cogestion donne une voix au conseil de surveillance.Co-determination gives the workforce seats on the supervisory board.
la délégation de négociationthe negotiating committeeNoun (f)C2
La délégation de négociation rend compte après chaque séance.After each session the negotiating committee reports back to the members.
