(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #242 - Social Conference: Boycott CGT: entering a new period? (fr, pt)

The refusal of the CGT to participate in the social conference in early July is a victory 
for those who, within a confederation tempted by reformism, campaigning for the choice of 
the class struggle. ---- Deep policy debates through the CGT in recent years: results from 
the fight on pensions; instructions to vote on the referendum for the European Treaty 
(Confederal office who wanted to abstain publicly outvoted for the first time); 
non-signing of the ANI on vocational training (another public disavowal of the Confederal 
Bureau); appeal to some important part in the protest of April 12, 2014 involving trade 
unions, associations and political forces against the austerity policies despite the 
direct intervention of Thierry LEPAON structures. ---- These debates have crystallized in 
June around social Conference on 7 and 8 July. Gradually grassroots unions, confederal 
leaders, Congress took different structures in favor of the boycott, causing violent 
exchanges in stages "Montreuil." Finally Solidarity announced it was boycotting the 
conference. Then the CGT and FO announced their non-participation in the second day and 
finally gave FSU his chair during the second day. An exceptional event in the small world 
of "social dialogue", a blow to the government! And for the CGT, with a break over the 
CFDT whose secretary Laurent Berger was on his own to take on the responsibility pact and 
its austere consequences for employee-es. Berger eventually compare boycotters unions... 
the FN!

"Gathered" unionism or syndicalism control

Since the government experience PS / PCF 1981, CGT is looking for a route between unionism 
and fight an accompanying unionism (euphemistically called "gathering"). The challenge? 
Sustainable and stable rapprochement with the CFDT. But before the violence of employer 
and government attacks, number of federal officers and departmental unions, some known as 
little combative bureaucrats (except against their "opponents") well, have come to 
understand that there was nothing gleanings from the comfort of the instances of "social 
dialogue". Today they are worried about a possible disappearance of the CGT, private 
identifiable strategy, subject to contrary attractions of Solidarity on his left and on 
his right CFDT. Their distress facilitates opening of an open to everyone activists 
debate. Gattaz, Holland and journalists lament: CGT is not directed! We can no longer play 
the "social dialogue"! And it's partly true. The time when the PCF leadership decided the 
political and personal differences in the CGT is over. In a lengthy statement "Together, 
everything is possible", a dozen top officials open debate of the 51st Congress. With 
interesting ideas but a conservative platitudes! And the risk of a return to subjection 
design of the CGT to a political party, ie the Left Front. In a less diplomatic statement, 
the departmental union of Paris, the largest in France, calling for a review of the 
results of the national leadership at an upcoming national Confederal Committee (NAC), the 
body which includes representatives appointed by the federations and departmental unions 
and ensures work between congresses of the Confederal Executive Committee and his office. 
A rich period ahead activists committed to unionism rooted in the class struggle and the 
bearer of a radical social transformation. The discussions in all stages of the union 
apparatus make it possible to quietly ask all strategic matters as construction of power 
relations, relationships with political parties, trade union democracy, trade union unity, 
self-management practices and direct democracy... An opportunity for activists to regain 
their CGT!

Jean-Yves (AL Seine-Saint-Denis)

More: communisteslibertairescgt.over-blog.net