What is a union?
A union is a group of people who come together to improve working conditions and promote social change.
This twin purpose directly involves the company but also goes beyond it. It can only be achieved collectively, both within the company and in society. Whether in the context wage negotiations or political demands, individualism is a barrier that only maintains the status quo and the various forms of existing domination, especially at the economic level.
To reach these goals, a union will:
- Inform employees so they can better understand the world and take action
- Support and defend fellow workers who need help dealing with management
- Participate in negotiations with the company and the state
- Organize protests and, when necessary, call for strikes
Why join a union?
Even if things seem better at Back Market than elsewhere, there is no need to wait for a conflict to organize collectively. As the 2023 redundancy plan (PSE) showed, Back Market is just like any other company: decisions that affect all employees are decided by the management, and the Workers’ Council (CSE) often has a consultative role only.
Joining Solidiaires Informatique means:
- Working together to protect and improve our working conditions
- Learning to organize, discuss, and think collectively to bring about change
- Getting involved in social struggles and defending our rights outside the company
- Financially supporting the union activities by becoming a member
Joining us doesn’t require participation in anything specific, but it is already a step towards taking action, getting involved, and not being alone.
Why not just leave the company instead?
We love Back Market, its mission, its values, and our colleagues 🖤
And when something is not right, we believe in the need to act together to make things better here rather than looking for something else:
- Supporting colleagues who don’t have the same job opportunities: junior staff, non-European foreigners, parents of young children, etc.
- Improving working conditions for everyone,
- Building a better company where everyone’s voice is heard.
Moreover, many issues go beyond the company, such as defending our pension system or fighting against the far right. From this perspective, Back Market is not the worst company to get involved with.
What are the risks?
Union repression is illegal in France. The French Constitution guarantees the possibility to “defend one’s rights and interests through union action and to join the union of one’s choice.”
Moreover, union involvement, like political or community involvement, is a personal choice that is part of you private life. You don’t have to disclose that you are a union member, not to your boss, your colleagues, or HR.
Within Solidaires Informatique, only the national union office knows your membership status and, unless you object, the representative of Solidaires Informatique’s section at Back Market will also know. We always make sure not to reveal the identity of union members without their consent, even to other members of Solidaires Informatique.
That said, for comrades who take on an official role — on the Workers’ Council (CSE) for example —, French law provides a status of protected employee which prevents any dismissal without genuine and serious cause.
Why Solidaires?
Solidaires Informatique 🇫🇷, litteraly “IT Solidary”, is a national union bringing together workers in the digital, consulting, and video game sectors in France. The union is present at OVH 🇫🇷, 360 Learning 🇫🇷, OCTO 🇫🇷, Cap Gemini 🇫🇷, Blizzard 🇫🇷, Ubisoft 🇫🇷, Red Hat 🇫🇷, and many other companies!
The union is resolutely feminist, anti-capitalist, anti-fascist, anti-racist, environmentalist, and pro-LGBTI+. It is a grassroots union that defends not only the rights and interests of workers in our sector, but also a vision of “social change for society as a whole.
Among the policies decided at previous congresses, we find:
- Promoting and defending free and open-source software as widely as possible
- Covering legal fees in cases of gender-based and/or sexual violence
- Addressing the role of digital technology in the face of the climate emergency
Solidaires Informatique is an independent union that is part of Union syndicale Solidaires 🇫🇷, litterally “Solidary Unions’ Union”. The unions’ union includes unions from other economic sectors: heavy industry, education, public transportation, the press, and many others!
Can I go on strike?
Any employee can go on strike, provided certain conditions are met. First, the work stoppage must be complete. Then:
- The strike must be part of a national movement,
- Otherwise, for a strike specific to the company, there must be at least two strikers, and the employer must be informed of the demands.
It is not necessary to be a union member. No prior notice is required. There is no minimum or maximum duration.
And there is no need to inform your employer: it’s up to them to notice the absence and ask for the reason. That said, you can also inform your manager in advance if you wish. At Back Market, we even have the option of recording an absence in ADP ourselves with the reason “strike.”
Strikers cannot be punished or discriminated against. For example, this means we cannot be denied a raise because of it.
However, your salary will be reduced in proportion to the duration of the strike. But exercising the right to strike should not appear on the payslip.
Any other questions?
Feel free to check out our manifesto and visit the “Become an activist, Join!” page 🇫🇷 page on the Solidaires Informatique website.
Also, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our section or, if you prefer, directly with the national union 🇫🇷.
If you need help, know that Solidaires Informatique also regularly holds online union support sessions 🇫🇷.
However, keep in mind that this is a French union, so if you don’t feel comfortable enough with the language it might be simpler to get in touch with the Back Market section 😉
Knowing your rights is important!