Every 4 years, employees of very small companies (TPE) with fewer than 11 employees, as well as home workers, are called to vote to designate the unions that will represent them. Originally scheduled for late 2020, the election has been postponed to spring 2021 due to the health crisis. The campaign is now underway.
Union representation: what is the purpose of the election?
There are 5 million employees working for VSEs with fewer than 11 employees and home workers. Unlike employees in larger companies, they do not have a Social and Economic Committee (CSE). The trade union representativeness election therefore enables them to vote for the trade union of their choice, in order tobe better represented and defended.
In addition, this election enables us to observe the major trends that emerge, in parallel with the professional elections organized in larger companies, and to know the weight of each union within the professional branches as well as on a national level.
As in the previous election, the main trade union confederations are taking part, including CGT, FO, CFDT, CFTC and CFE-CGC. UNSA, Solidaires and the Confédération nationale du travail(CNT) are also taking part, as are organizations competing exclusively in this election, such as the Confédération autonome du travail (CAT) and the Union des syndicats anti-pécarité.
Union representativeness elections are generally poorly mobilized, with only 8% turnout in the previous ballot in 2017.
How are union representation elections held?
This election is held every 4 years. Originally scheduled for the end of 2020, the election has been postponed to the spring, due to the health crisis, and will now take place from March 22 to April 4, 2021. For employees concerned, now is the time to check whether they are still registered on the electoral list: after January 27, it will be too late.
Voters do not nominate a list of candidates, but a union. This is known as the "acronym" vote. Each union draws up a program, which can be consulted on the election-tpe.travail.gouv.fr website, under the heading " Candidates". The list presented varies according to the employer's region, as well as the collective agreement and the employee's college, based on data collected at the end of 2019.
At the beginning of January, all voters on the list should have received a postal letter containing this information. It also contains the login details for your voter's area.
Voting will take place online between March 22 and April 4, 2021, or by post using the ballot papers sent out in early January. Paper ballots must reach the counting center by April 12 at the latest.
The results will be published on the dedicated website on April 16, as well as on that of the Ministry of Labour.