Modestly we planned for 40 people and we had

It is sufficient to observe the eagerness of the providers of any kind to participate in various trade fairs organised each year for committees of business to see that the social and cultural of these activities represent a more coveted market! First "dredging" of the elected officials The editors of purchase orders, closely followed by all those who can expend: agencies travel, vacation settlements, organizers of events, language tours as the traditional "Christmas tree", which brings together each year employees and their children a show and a snack. Chocolates, foie gras, fine wines and fanciful jewelry resellers are not at rest. Another area in vogue: the sport. Fitness clubs are not the last to knock on the door of the. And on culture, cinema at a reduced price tickets and the ticket by the great performances of the time do the lion's share.

With a purchasing power of 11 billion euros, the 32,000 works councils hold a manna which passes unnoticed. On this budget, 1.5 billion is allocated to the operation of this (computer, supply, training of elected representatives, Council, etc.). But the biggest share of the pie, 7 billion, goes to the socio-cultural activities, including 50 for the pole tourism, sport and recreation. The other half is divided between the restoration, gift certificates and other purchase orders, the tree of Christmas, toys, financial participation in the mutual. Finally, the remaining 2.5 billion are carried out on direct sales to employees under the auspices of the EC via the bundled purchases. "The EC are a pool to capture, view Jean-Luc Friesland, President of the Uncovac (Union of committees for the holidays), a body established in 1967 by the CFDT in partnership with associations of social tourism. On the one hand facing very strong suppliers and more individualistic employees demand pressures, elected officials have difficulty to resist this consumer trend.

"Deferred compensation".

Nathalie Ruellan, Treasurer of the of the Group of social protection Mornay (2,300 employees), notes, quite, this evolution. This woman, who manages a budget of EUR 2 million, it is difficult to dam to the "commodification". "For the employees, the benefits of this are increasingly considered as a deferred compensation and... as a due while it is a right.". And they want to recover to the most practical way for them. We are braced for a long time against the cheque-holidays, but we have come to give three years ago. At the time, we have less money for transit activities, annual travel, workshops couture or painting, the functioning of the media library to help unite the collective. Similarly, we purchased a few years ago toys for the children of the employees with artisans. Now, we distribute Christmas of the purchase orders that the kids will spend on large surfaces.

More flexibility and autonomy... This is made clear by Accenture employees when the asked their opinion through a survey conducted last year. It was launched, after having found a shift of increasing social and cultural activities which some were cancelled due to lack of entries: "we realized that they were not suited for most of the employees, consultants, a young and nomadic population, says Eric Pigal, Treasurer of this.". Noted us that the distribution of the budget was not very fair since, because of their travel, they could not participate in the tour for example. What they want to, it is go to travel at the time they want, with whom they want, with the choice of the level of benefits. I believe that employees are awaiting this turnkey activities, but the services.

The concept of service

For Philippe Grapinet, representing Union CFE - CGC EC of EADS to the Les Mureaux (1,700 employees) website, it is on this notion of service that elected representatives must rely to continue to play their role. And find a balance between redistribution and socio-cultural action: "There is nothing of persisting to offer activities where employees can do without the assistance of the EC, as a stay in a France or a play for which it is easy to find a ticket." Our EC organizes trips abroad as part of the people are not very comfortable to fend in countries which they do not know the language or habits. We have recently proposed to go see the Opera "rigoletto": dinner hosted by a speaker, first class seats hard to find if you are not subscribed and transportation, all for 45 euros. Modestly, we planned for 40 people and we had... 360 applications!

Was established in 2000, CanalCE, a company which is intermediate between the EC and the suppliers, thus this consumerist wave surfing. Central procurement for approximately 2,000 subscribers committees the tariff varies between 2,000 and 15,000 euros depending on the number of employees, it offers competitive prices on the range of suppliers travel, ticketing, parks for recreation and... time for elected officials who don't want to step to exhaust to bargain. But Sandra Legrand, the founder and President, advocates push for overconsumption: "35 hours have given more time to people but not necessarily more money.". Hence the pressure on the purchasing power via the. But politicians do not like to be reduced to a figure of one-stop paying. They are looking for innovative activities that are in the air of the time. This is also what we propose them: day karting, wine tasting, cooking courses, course at the Louvre in the footsteps of the "Da Vinci Code".

Time and money

In the world, it is much smaller that work worth that worth with grappillées hours here and by volunteers elected officials there. They are the ones who have the most difficulty in not to be invaded by merchants. Because, in large who have the means, individuals are "used" by this to deal with social and cultural activities. And this can make a difference, as to the Committee of BNP Paribas Securities, 1700 employees, where five people to spend full time: "we refuse to make the box office, tells François Rizzo, Secretary of this.". Three times a year, us Edition brochure presents a selection of performances, exhibitions and cultural visits. We explain why we made this choice and why it subsidizes; texts, written by the employees who have researched, to introduce the artists. These cultural activities are successful, since attendance is 30. The EC should not be a piggy bank, fuelled by the suppliers, in which employees are to use. But it is easier to say no, to some and to others, when elected representatives have money and time. "This is far from being the majority of the EC, which were therefore not finished to race with broken prices...