so you can see the french have more democracy at work by law than the americans do:
"(Partly as a result, frustrated hardliners have resorted to radical measures, such as “boss-napping” or holding managers hostage, to make their point.)
Instead, the real source of French union strength today is the statutory powers they enjoy as joint managers, along with business representatives, of the country’s health and social-security system, and as employee representatives in the workplace. Under French law, elected union delegates represent all employees, union members or not, in firms with over 50 staff on both works councils and separate health-and-safety councils. These must be consulted regularly by bosses on a vast range of detailed managerial decisions. This gives trade unions a daily say in the running of companies across the private sector, which accounts for the real strength of their voice.
Some of these consultations are productive, and secure the defence of employees’ reasonable interests. But the works councils’ remit ranges unusually wide. Managers must consult health-and-safety councils over such matters as the reorganisation of office furniture, for example, in order to prevent stress. The lay-off of more than ten employees must be negotiated with works councils under a tightly regulated “social plan”. Unlike in Germany, the relationship in France between managers and union delegates on works councils is often testy."
https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2014/03/economist-explains-15
