We cannot fully understand this extension of the social conflict in the refineries, without delving into what should be called trade union differences. Differences already between the two main confederations, the CGT and the CFDT. This Thursday morning on BFMTV, in front of Apolline de Malherbe, Philippe Martinez, the general secretary of the CGT explained that he was going to propose that “starting next week, there be a new call for strikes and demonstrations in all companies, both public and private. .
An approach that cannot be subscribed to by the CFDT, which cultivates its image as a reformist union. Guest this morning from France Inter, Laurent Berger, the CFDT general secretary insisted on the virtues of dialogue, of negotiation within the professional branches and in companies before addressing the line of the CGT: “It is not the call for the convergence of struggles that increase the wages of cleaning workers, private security, landscapers”.
The CFDT accused of being a “strikebreaker union”
Laurent Berger is also perceived as a traitor to the cause by hardline trade unionists. A recent press release from the National Federation of Chemical Industries, which includes refiners elected from the CGT, sums up this contempt well. Laurent Berger is accused of protecting the magnates of the multinationals in the oil sector and the Macron government and the CFDT, “a strikebreaker union, dedicated to defending the interests of businessmen.”
But there are also internal power struggles within the CGT. Indeed, Philippe Martinez has left, he planned to leave his position in 2023. And he would like a woman to succeed him. Marie Buisson, Secretary General of the Federation of Education, Research and Culture. Except that Marie Buisson not only has friends, that the line that she defends is not very appreciated, in particular in the chemistry federation, much more powerful than that of education.
In the background, professional elections in the public service
Finally, there is the electoral context with the next professional elections in the public service, on December 8. This is a very important moment for the unions, since it allows them to measure their influence, their representativeness. And the bet of the CGT for the elections of December 8 is to continue being the first union of the public function.
In the last elections of 2018, it came out first with 21.8% of the votes, but it was closely followed by the CFDT, which, accumulating its 19% among civil servants and its 27.8% in the private sector (2021 results) can boast of being the main union in France.
Source: BFM TV
