(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #236 - CNT-working Solidarity: The pragmatic anarcho-syndicalism (fr, pt)

Since its split of the French CNT in autumn 2012, the CNT Solidarity workers opted for 
pragmatism, assuming the fact salarier activists. Successfully. Remains to share the 
anarcho-syndicalist project and its member participants. ---- "Focusing intervention in 
the most precarious sectors: construction, retail, hospitality, cleaning, restoration" : 
the implementation strategy of the CNT-SO is contained in this sentence, taken from the 
motion direction of its first congress Confederal. It was held from 1 to 3 November 2013 
The Freychede (Ari?ge) and took stock of the first twelve months of operation of the 
CNT-SO [ 1 ]. ---- Twelve months of proactive construction, with already struggles fought 
and won. Built around the CNT-cleaning the Paris region, it intends to continue its 
development through the creation of new unions from sectors with a largely immigrant 
workforce. Finally areas where despite the presence of other unions (often "houses"), is 
sorely lacking a feisty and independent employers working alternative.

Bet difficult, as union work is thankless and exhausting (constant prud'homale procedures, 
permanent administrative monitoring). Bet, however, in part if we take into account real 
success in terms of creation of unions in Lyon among others. Even if there are related to 
the world of communication structures, health, social, education (as in Marseille where 
the CNT education joined the CNT-SO) or the computer (CNT-IIC also switched), it should be 
noted that the bulk of its implementation is among the workers. At Perpignan, dumped, 
Paca, in the cooperative building Energy Bat, or in Paris, Disneyland.

Union wins

On the asset side of the very young confederation, some union victories give him even more 
credibility and visibility. At the Park Hyatt Paris-Vend?me, in September 2013, an 
agreement with a company subcontracts following a strike, long weeks, led by CNT-SO with 
the CGT. Another strike, the employee-es of society TFN Cleanliness Southeast, the call of 
the single CNT-SO, collected 95% of strikers December 6, 2013 in Lyon.

If the CNT-SO remains a modest size (between 1200 and 1500 and adherent members), its 
mapping hexagonal layout tends to stretch over months. Headquartered in Paris, Perpignan 
and Lyon, it has since expanded its influence in Le Havre, Marseille, and more recently in 
Menton (in the urban transport company Postbus Riviera).

This growth, albeit relative, is nevertheless real. And one explanation is the proactive 
development policy, which covers here and there off. It was a heated debate in the CNT-f 
debate before the split, the CNT-SO ruled and made the choice to pay salaries comrades to 
face the enormous administrative task, legal and development.

These activists are not idle. Legal employee of the CNT-SO in the Paris region pleads no 
less than 60 cases per month Prud'hommes. In Lyon, the fact salarier activist on these 
legal questions, it also (and especially) Clear time to "turn" on site.

To a mass union project

Moreover, in connection with this quantitative development, a fundamental question: that 
relating to training. The CNT-SO, emphasizing its implementation in less unionized and 
particularly precarious sectors is a strategic choice that is not without contradiction. 
While historically in France, the revolutionary CNT-f-syndicalist CGT, the
anarcho-syndicalism has always been the choice of unionism "militant", the CNT-SO tends to 
favor an original track made pragmatism and opening up a shop project mass.

The CNT-SO is also well aware of this challenge: to avoid a rift between militant "elite" 
conscious and ideologically coherent and a "base" and combative working but foreign to the 
anarcho-syndicalist project, a partnership has been established with the Institute Culture 
and Freedom [ 2 ] with already two training cycles. Objective: To make members and 
acceding actors and actresses of their trade union action. This is its viability as an 
organization claiming self-management ideals.

Another substantive issue, finally, relates to its actual development space in the 
landscape of class struggle unionism (CNT-f, Solidarity, some sectors of the CGT) already 
quite congested. The future will show whether this gap exists for this CNT-SO that means 
out anarcho-syndicalism its marginal character.

Jeremiah Berthuin (AL Gard)


[ 1 ] Read "CNT: after the split, what future? " Alternative libertarian in January 2013.

[ 2 ] Culture and Freedom is a popular education movement. More information: 
www.culture-et-liberte.asso.fr/