The strike by workers at French refineries is leading fuel distribution companies to set up new supply chains based on imports – slightly more costly because of the logistics involved, but more reliable.
Likewise, the (last) importers who used the port of Marseille have begun – notably in anticipation of the massive deliveries for the end-of-year holidays – to work with other Mediterranean ports (Genoa, Barcelona…) or even those of northern Europe (Antwerp, Rotterdam…).
Marseille is on its knees, and it is to be feared, for the local economy, that the port will not recover from these transfers of activity, which will have no reason to be reversed unless local behaviour changes radically.
For the refineries, the context is different but unfortunately just as frightening for the future of jobs in France: the technologies and cost structures of French refineries, along with other cost factors, are leading chemical companies to concentrate their production close to the oil-producing regions. The current industrial unrest can only accelerate this offshoring, against which no amount of demonstrations will be able to do anything.
In a closed, self-sufficient, autonomous society, one can imagine such “trials of strength”, at the expense of end consumers but also of local companies which – whether one admits it or not – create wealth.
But in an open, competitive world sensitive to trade, one cannot forget that others can freely choose to do without you (just as you can do without them)!
Some may perhaps miss those closed models, reassuring in their inevitable totalitarianism. But even North Korea, the “model” closed society, will be forced – despite its nuclear arrogance, but faced with the poverty and famine of its people – to consider opening up.
In our rich countries, most companies know that, to create wealth and therefore secure jobs, they must constantly face competition – and to do so, guarantee the quality of their products and services, innovate, and maintain or reduce prices…
This model is no doubt far from restful, and in any case it does not encourage the status quo or idleness; but, unless we choose poverty and totalitarianism, it is the only viable one.
As the philosopher Karl Popper wrote in the preface to his book “The Open Society and Its Enemies”: “I am well aware of the difficulties and dangers inherent in democracy, but I nonetheless believe it is our only hope. Many examples show that this hope is not in vain.”
The same is true, in our view, of the free trade on which the wealth and development of our modern societies are founded, as is the development of individuals and of the societies they form.
In this context, it is the responsibility of every entrepreneur, manager, supervisor and employee to help find the right balance between performance, fairness, personal development and job security.
Leave a Reply