(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #231 - CGT: A leftist union to build (fr)

For years, it was announced the breaking of the reformist CGT, sensitive in the majority 
confederal orientation. Yet, a majority of union CGT keeps combative practices. Inventory 
of anti-capitalist opposition within the CGT. ---- The confederation CGT congress of 50th 
March 2013 [ 1] was generally marked by the continued guidance of previous conferences : 
those of a trade union proposals and negotiations, mixed with some great days of strikes 
and demonstrations in support a union strategy based on social dialogue - between "social 
partners" responsible under the aegis of a welfare state. This observation is partly true 
if we pay attention only to statements of its leaders the most publicized and text 
conventions. Indeed, the concepts of "unionism together", "social democracy", "unionism 
membership", "unionism proposals and negotiations"... are designed and implemented on the 
ground in any other way by many CGT union.

And because a large minority sensitivities all together, from the base to the top, have a 
different approach, characterized by the primacy of the relationship of forces.
Between reformism and radicalism

The major problem, which still holds the conference in March 2013, is the inability to 
construct a coherent alternative to the preparatory texts orientation. This can be 
verified in contradictions voted at the end of the conference final texts. Yet it marks 
progress on many points. For example, when the SGC intends to open the debate on social 
ownership and therefore the legitimacy of private property. But you can read along in 
protest marks the CGT fights for business support by the various employee savings schemes 
of regional funds to promote sustainable employment. It oscillates between a timid 
anti-capitalist approach and an approach to regulating the market economy.

Yet, many more amendments "class struggle" still back in Congress. The thunderous applause 
to greet the hardest to interventions against PS / EELV government and MEDEF there show a 
radical demand of the trade unions. How to explain this discrepancy with the much more 
moderate interventions leading member of the national leadership? How to explain that 
during SCC [2] most of the departmental secretaries Unions stick to implementation of the 
reformist understanding guidance conference carried by most of the national leadership?

Remove obstacles to unity

There are several obstacles to the expression of an anti-capitalist alternative in CGT: 
many activists, whatever their level of responsibility, reluctant to lead the fight 
collectively, not wanting to be perceived as divisive es. But is not it a kind of 
reformist fraction that is in control of most of the key positions in the umbrella 
organization ? There is a real problem of collective expression and union democracy.

Another obstacle, which is the cause and effect, it is the refusal to harm the 
organization if the CGT tears internally, it can only weaken against the employers and 
other unions. While this may weaken for a time but letting the CGT in the muddy waters of 
reformism is definitely weakening.

Last obstacle: diversity, dispersion and bigotry of activists who clearly demonstrate 
their opposition to the current direction. These three factors are full as a foil for the 
majority of union CGT preferring warp somewhat genuinely reformist orientations.

It is essential that the anti-capitalist currents unite on common grounds and wide open, 
leaving aside their different ideological often related stories and various militant path 
( FCP, the "Trotskyists" revolutionary unionists, "Maoist", libertarians... ) we must be 
able to understand beyond the differences in vocabulary, which often result in sterile 
discussions and oppositions then we mean the same thing.

What should heckle the various organized minorities is their ability to speak with one 
voice and with a language understood by all and all union members CGT references. This may 
involve a trade magazine, a website, by regional and national meetings, etc.. This 
question is not trivial and purely technical problems since it joined the union democracy.
Building a majority trade union left

But this unity of anti-capitalist union displayed may not be limited to being a rally 
against the national leadership. It only makes sense that in the desire to build in the 
struggles and the CGT alternative orientations and practices for all workers. For most of 
the CGT union leading the class struggle on a daily basis are not part of organized 
minorities [3], do not often know or look at them with suspicion.

However, if many CGT are secured es conventional designs reflecting the reformist social 
democratic party that division between structural reforms and union claims at the margin, 
the vast majority of union members are fighting back against the wall no overall 
perspective of their many battles. It is this ideological vacuum that reformism also wins. 
This is the assertion of an alternative to capitalism that is most potentially winnable 
given the contradictions of the period (economic crisis, political and ecological) and 
positive developments, though fragile, CGT (autonomy to against political parties, 
societal struggles integrated into the overall discussion, bargaining unit).
Ermon (AL Lorient)

[1] See " Unfinished Congress " in AL # 228 on May 2013et blog 
communisteslibertairescgt.over - blog.net

[2 ] National Committee confederation. It brings together secretaries UD and federations. 
This is the "parliament" of the CGT between congresses. In particular, it defines the 
protest marks.

[3] Trade Union Front of Class, Revolutionary Committees Unionists, Continue CGT, CGT 
Whither ?, Libertarian communist CGT today. Committee for CGT class struggle yesterday, 
under the leadership of Jean -Pierre Delannoy metallurgist whose nomination as secretary 
general of the CGT at the 49th Congress had crystallized the opposition.