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As
early as 1886, the social status of the employees was one of
the preoccupations of the Houses. This was when they participated
financially in the creation of a "Société de
Secours Mutuel des Ouvriers des Caves de Reims" (the Society
of Mutual Assistance for the cellar workers of Reims (It still exists
today under the name of Corporation
des Tonneliers & Cavistes : Corporation of barrel makers
and cellar workers).
In 1919, two joint
commissions for discussion saw the light of day, one at Reims and
the other at Épernay, because each town had different employees
and social benefits. That of Épernay was presided over by Robert-Jean
de Vogüé, President of the House of Moët &
Chandon. This House obtained a gold medal in 1900 at the Universal
Exhibition for all of its social activities: free medical service,
financial help in case of sickness, family assistance, housing,
social loans, gardens, legal aid, pensions...
The
social unrest of 1936, which shook most of the French industrial
sectors was however spared from the wines of Champagne thanks to
the constructive discussion between the employers and the employee
representatives. They agreed on the first "collective contract",
defining the social status of the employees working in the Champagne
Houses. These were the beginnings of a "Collective Agreement",
whose use did not develop in other sectors of activity until the
1950's and which is still today the basis of social discussion in
France.
The
sad period of 1940-1945 had the effect of strengthening the
connections established between the employers and the employee representatives.
They displayed a very courageous example when they faced the Nazi
occupiers in defending the President of the House of Moët and
Chandon, Robert-Jean de Vogüé,
arrested and deported in 1943. Amongst the historic leaders of the
Champagne employees is Gaston
Martin who, since 1936, was at the origin of the tireless and
fruitful social discussions with the Champagne employers.
After
the war, the "Three-party Commission" regularly improved
the social status of the Champagne employees reaching an exceptionally
advantageous level, both in wages and social benefits. This was
codified by the Collective Agreement and made obligatory for all
companies elaborating Champagne by a decree of the Ministries for
Agriculture and Social Affairs.
As
we enter the 21st century, the discussion between employers
and employees is more widespread. Each House maintains direct relations
with the employee representatives in its company. This aims to establish
a personal relationship with each employee, allowing him both to
be happy in his work and to obtain social promotion via professional
training. Nevertheless, the discussions between employers and employee
trade unions continue collectively at the heart of the Three-party
Commission. This continues to fulfil its permanent role of updating
the minimum obligatory social status in all companies whose principal
business activity is to elaborate and/or market Champagne.
It
meets at least once a year to negotiate the level of salary scales
and social benefits awarded as an obligatory minimum to all of the
employees without prejudicing any additional advantages eventually
agreed by internal discussions within the Houses.
The
employees who work in a company whose main activity remains agricultural
("propriétaires récoltants" - growers owning
vineyards) are not part of this agreement because they benefit from
the Collective Agreement of viticultural operations in delimited
region of Champagne. This is managed by the "Commission mixte
viticole" (Joint Viticultural Commission), whose employer representatives
are designated by the General Trade
Union of Champagne Vine-growers.
The
Champagne Three-party Commission regroups three representative
delegations :
- of all the employers
whose company exercises, as its main activity, the champagnisation
and/or the marketing of the wines of Champagne (APE 15.9 F and G)
in the area of AOC Champagne,
- of the 5 trade unions
representing the employees of the general social security scheme
(CGC, CGT, FO, CFDT, SMECC),
- of the 4 trade unions
representing the employees of the MSA agricultural scheme.
The detail of
the agreements obtained
by the Champagne Three-party Commission,
which make up the Collective
Agreement
( 
french only )
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The
overview of salaries and social benefits
of the Champagne House employees
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The
successive Presidents of the Champagne Three-party Commission were
:
1930-1940 Robert-Jean
de Voguë (Moët & Chandon)
1942 René
CHAYOUX (Ayala)
1956 Christian
HEIDSIECK (Charles Heidsieck)
1966 François
d'AULAN (Piper Heidsieck)
1973 Paul
BERGEOT (Besserat de Bellefon)
1986 Michel
KAIQUE (Piper Heidsieck)
1998 Alain
THIENOT (Alain Thiénot)
1999 Claude
FOURNIER
2005 Patrick MOLLIEN (Laurent-Perrier – Mumm & Perrier-Jouët)
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