France: Employers' organisations face internal conflict

The repercussions of a financial scandal involving the UIMM metalworking employers’ organisation intensified in March 2008, causing a significant rift between UIMM and Medef, the main national employers’ confederation.

The "UIMM affair" broke in October 2007, following reports that millions of euros had been withdrawn in cash from its bank accounts over several years, allegedly to make secret payments to trade unions to “smooth” the industrial relations process.