More than a week at the head of the CGT. The current general secretary of the union, Philippe Martinez, was the guest of BFM Politique this Sunday, March 19. The opportunity to return to the next CGT congress, which will be held from March 27 to 31 in Clermont-Ferrand and will mark the end of his mandate, which began in 2015.
“A problem of orientation, not of succession”
Asked about the alleged tensions within the union, in this context of the end of Philippe Martinez’s term, the latter responded:
The union leader then cited some of the major issues being debated within the confederation: “Does the CGT take the world of work as it is? We do not accept changes in precariousness, but we must take care of these people who are in precarious situation”. .
And to continue: “The CGT takes care of the environment?
“The fact that women are paid less than men are social issues. Should the CGT, as far as possible, promote union unity?”, he asks again. “The period we are living shows that whenever the unions are together, there are people on the street.”
Marie Buisson, the first female leader of the CGT?
Among the favorites in his succession, a woman: Marie Buisson, teacher of vocational high school in letters-history-geography and member of the CGT since 2001. A personality little known by the general public, but in tune with the orientations towards a better account of environmental issues and gender equality longed for by Philippe Martinez.
Last year, as an RTL article recalls, he publicly affirmed his support for this candidacy, declaring on May 31 before the Confederal Executive Commission of the CGT:
A request that had been widely approved, with 32 votes in favour, 3 against and 3 abstentions, but the situation would be more complicated internally.
The only other declared candidate for the moment, Olivier Mateu, general secretary of the Departmental Union of Bouches-du-Rhône (UD 13), which represents a more radical line, in particular within the framework of the movement against the pension reform.
If she is not a candidate, Céline Verzeletti is also one of the names currently circulating to succeed Philippe Martinez. She is currently co-general secretary of the Federal Union of State Trade Unions and a member of the confederal bureau, like Marie Buisson.
Source: BFM TV
