France, Alternative Libertaire AL #228 - Representativeness: The Famous Five confirmed (fr)

On March 29, the Department of Labour (DGT) has published new figures interprofessional 
national representativeness of trade unions in the private sector. If there is no major 
reconstruction, the results indicate the need to strengthen the implementation of a 
militant trade unionism. ---- The results published on March 29 by the DGT confirm the 
place of the CGT which totals 26.77%. CFDT (26%), FO (15.94%), GSC (9.43%) and the CFTC 
(9.3%) retain their official representative, while Unsa (4.26%) and Solidarity (3.47%) 
continue to be considered unrepresentative according to the criteria of the 2008 law "On 
social democracy", as well as all other organizations which represent less than 1% (CNT, 
etc.). ---- A law customized ---- This law, after the common position CGT / CFDT / 
employers, imposes new duties on trade unions, particularly in terms of audience, but 
gives no new rights to employee-es, including very small businesses still without 
representatives staff and where trade unionism is still virtually denied access.

It also gives a bonus to certain organizations: Since 2008, organizations were defined 
representative in 1966 continued to benefit the inter-national level and in the branches 
of "representativeness" regardless of their actual location. For four years, this remains 
at the industry level for representative organizations at national and inter-sectoral 
level in 2013. Clearly, CGT and CFDT have preserved a representative for another four 
years, even in the sixty to seventy branches where they do not meet the requirements of 
... their own text!

The results announced on March 29 have not booked any major surprises, even if few people 
foresaw the relatively low score of the CGC and the CFTC. The small difference in votes 
between the CGT and the CFDT is due to a slightly greater presence of the latter in business.

No major changes

This presence in the business is obviously a factor, which explains the low scores UNSA 
and Solidarity: if they often have good results where they are present, these 
organizations still suffer from weak implementation approach for bar of 8% required for 
recognition of inter representativeness.

Just the results are known, commentators were quick to explain that Ani was all the more 
legitimate it was signed by organizations representing a majority of employee-es, thus 
taking their own game who had mainly focused their criticism of the agreement on the fact 
that the signatories would be the minority. As if finding a signatory to initial text 
content automatically made it acceptable.

But the unions can not be reduced to these figures. While it would be foolish to deny that 
"unionism accompanying" represents a significant weight (although the inclusion of works 
councils and delegates staff makes it difficult to say that the vote is support the 
orientation of the confederation), to consider the dynamics that may exist or be created: 
unions, union teams who refuse declines social responsibility.

Volfoni (Al Montreuil)