The World Forum Lille will meet on the 9th, 10th and 11th of October 2008 on the theme « Feed and protect the Earth: the economic players’ responsibility…»
The North, land of social innovation
Although the social and environmental responsibility of companies is a relatively new concept, many local players have often unknowingly behaved in ways close to it, all the more so as the History of the North follows closely that of social progress in France.
From 1815 on, the region is known as "the first factory in France", term coined under the reign of Louis-Philippe. The changes in the way of life, the mentalities, the facilities, bring about a complete upheaval edifying for its successes as well as its disasters.
- An industrial history that starts very early, following closely the birth of industrial techniques in England (first steam engines, electricity, power generation and mining…).
- An economy, textile or mining, run by catholic employers and organised in very large companies or groups of companies.
- An intense activity that created a historical wave of social improvements when decision makers, be they politicians or businessmen, right or left wing, employers or unions, met the social challenge of the industrial revolution.
- Some regional figures then become famous through their fights, sometimes extremely harsh, but also through their actions sometimes innovative.
What about a quick overview ?
1860 : Strikes shake the region and yet, a year later, the Lille stock exchange opens. The wool trade takes a global dimension from Roubaix-Tourcoing.
1st may 1885 : Quiet workers demonstration in Fourmies, the army shoots, 9 people die and over 35 are wounded. This shooting creates a strong reaction throughout France. Today it is considered to be one of the founding events of the workers movement. Shortly afterwards Jean Jaurès even goes to Fourmies to make a speech whereas Georges Clémenceau says to the deputies that "it is the Fourth state that has risen".
1914 : The abbot Jules Lemire becomes mayor of Hazebrouck. In Parliament he gets important concessions such as limits for the work of children or pregnant women, help to buy small housing (the creation of cheap housing, precursor of HLM), etc. He also helped create allotments.
1928 : the strikes in Halluin are a turning point in the textile industrial relations, as the bishop of Lille (Liénart, not cardinal yet) takes the side of the strikers. Known later as "workers cardinal", he supports the union movement against a consortium that refuses to negotiate. Born in a bourgeois family in Lille, he will become famous for his opposition to the extreme right wing and supporting trade unions.
1919 : Creation of the Roubaix-Tourcoing textile consortium, a family salary compensation scheme and a political employer organisation. First child benefit scheme.
1930 : Local employers create the first national health scheme.
1942 : The textile employers union sets up a housing commission, which will later create the housing allowance. It is in Roubaix that the "1% housing" which became law in 1953, was invented and tried.
1943 : An organisation for apprenticeship is set up, prelude to the 1971 law on professional training.
1945 : Decree setting up the National health.