Work is a central arena for confronting the far-right tide and preventing the anticipated takeover of the state apparatus. For trade unions, it is fundamental to start from the everyday and concrete, to exchange ideas, and to build power with our colleagues. There is an urgent need to accelerate our actions and inter-union unity. Thirteen proposals to move in this direction.
Work is a central arena for confronting the far-right tide and preventing the anticipated takeover of the state apparatus. For trade unionism, it is fundamental to start from the everyday and the concrete, to exchange ideas, and to build power with our colleagues. There is an urgent need to accelerate our actions and inter-union unity. Thirteen proposals to move in this direction [1].Part of the far right's strength lies in the normalization of its rhetoric in spaces where it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to contradict it. Dehumanizing ideas can then become mainstream and commonplace. Where the far right's influence grows, so too do patriarchal, racist, LGBTQ+phobic, and ableist systems of domination, reinforcing the increasing dehumanization of a segment of the population, primarily in France: immigrants, people of color, and then quickly, " woke " activists, environmentalists, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities , and union members.
For millions of workers, daily interactions at work, however mundane they may seem, shape our opinions, behaviors, and social interactions, including political ones. This is where trade unionism is essential. Today, it represents the largest social force in this country in terms of membership numbers, sectoral and territorial presence, training programs, and more. It is a major tool for mobilization, concrete victories, solidarity, empowerment, and positive socialization.
Parisian demonstration of January 19, 2023.
Credits: Rémi Desprez
Let's face it: after the general surge of action in June and July 2024, our organizations have largely (re)immersed themselves in their daily operations, almost as if this situation didn't exist, as if the threat were going to disappear. Implementing our strategies and tactics in isolation has so far failed to reverse the strong trend toward the far right. Our collective efforts are extremely valuable. But can we, through ordinary action alone, truly confront an extraordinary threat ? It's time to break free from internal inertia and disrupt the status quo.
What to do ?
Here are some suggestions for rapid implementation, without claiming to offer a complete solution, much less to lecture our colleagues in the various union forces. They complement the daily work of defense, training, struggle, and discussion within our organizations, which remain central and essential.
1. Discuss this within our unions at all levels: we must seize this issue and make it a central element of our discussions. " What are we doing to push back the far right ? " " What impact will this or that union decision/action have on this issue ? " Each union has its own structure and culture, with different motivations. These discussions can be initiated at many levels; let's do it, always keeping in mind the importance of unity.
2. Joining your union to Vigilance et initiatives syndicales antifasciste (VISA) and building these inter-union collectives in our territories, for example at the departmental level: this allows both to strengthen a unified tool, but also to develop a regular and inter-union liaison space on the subject, as for example with the recent creation of a VISA 93.
VISA is an inter-union association composed of more than 300 structures mainly from the CGT, Solidaires, the FSU, with federations, local unions and departmental unions.
VISA is an inter-union association composed of more than 300 structures mainly from the CGT, Solidaires, the FSU, with federations, local unions and departmental unions.
Credits: Fragil/Juliette Ducornetz
3. Strengthen concrete union work and collectively reclaim divisive issues, which are being exploited by the far right, in order to move beyond them: this involves exchanging ideas with colleagues and working to translate what is currently being exploited at the individual level through rhetoric of fear, hatred, or division regarding working conditions into positive and progressive demands. By acting collectively, we push back the far right, as members of the Work and Democracy Workshops remind us.
4. Create spaces for discussion at work on a broad basis, starting with the defense of human rights and democratic freedoms: the goal is to come together as widely as possible, to break free from apathy and individual anxieties, and to rebuild collective confidence. It's also about enabling those who want to support each other, who are suffering during this period, who want to take action-including non-unionized colleagues - to find a space to act, whether informal or formal (collective, committee, etc.). And if, by 2027, the far right were to seize control of the state apparatus, the bonds forged could serve as a foundation of solidarity to unite, slow down, and prevent inhumane, particularly racist, policies, following the model of what we saw in Minneapolis.
5. Stop the subsidizing of the far right by works councils: Stérin box, stay at Puy du Fou, boycott of the Bolloré galaxy... We must put an end to these direct fundings and the unions can quite easily carry this out together in a maximum number of companies.
6. Leaving behind the tools of fascism: if we all have contradictions, it is time to close the X accounts (ex Twitter) that enrich Elon Musk and distort public debate to migrate to spaces that are more neutral in terms of algorithm (Bluesky) or free (Mastodon).
7. Working towards union unity, including electoral unity: the more we move forward together, the more we instill confidence in unionism among workers. Of course, this isn't possible everywhere. But in a time when we need to stand together, building unity, which requires effort, has never been more important. And we often have more in common than we realize. In fact, on this issue in various professional sectors, the responsibility most often falls on the " largest " union. The year 2026 is particularly important in terms of workplace elections: we must avoid tensions and divisions during this crucial democratic moment in the workplace.
8. Reducing the Union Depression: The existence of union branches and a strong union presence hinders the expansion of the far right. Despite its efforts, the union movement is failing and lacks a presence in many sectors and companies. This is, in fact, one of the reasons for the Yellow Vest movement. What if we envisioned a unified unionization campaign, a joint effort to reach out to workers ? This would send a powerful message to the world of work. Let's experiment with this in our local and departmental unions, and in sectors where cooperation is strong, to create and disseminate concrete examples of joint action, because where unionism advances, the far right retreats.
9. Adopt and develop the centrality of a protective ecology for workers, based on the social utility of modes of production and consumption: the climate and environmental crisis accelerates the urgency for major transformations and turning points. We must seize this opportunity more strongly within our unions to make it a lever for convergence and mobilization and to counter the fears, lies, and climate-killing policies fueled in particular by the far right, which, in a vicious cycle, feeds on them.
10. To present positive and unifying common demands with the social movement and civil society: the work of the coalition in 2024 was done in haste. It can be taken up and expanded upon, because beyond a defensive project, we need clear, strong, and unifying measures to permeate society and offer a future other than one of hatred of the far right, a future that incorporates an intersectional approach to forms of domination.
11. Establish an independent relationship with progressive political parties: it is possible to protect our autonomy from political parties while simultaneously forging a new, constructive, and critical dialogue, particularly with a progressive electoral alliance. If our measures are adopted by a political power, we can establish a post-election oversight committee to monitor their implementation and maintain our role as a counterweight.
12. Affirming our inter-organizational solidarity: the far right thrives on controversy and attacks against parts of our broader ecosystem to exacerbate our divisions and weaken us. How many associations, unions, and individuals have been attacked, sometimes physically ? Let us accept differences in positions and practices while defending those who are targeted. Pluralism is one of our strengths, and so is solidarity.
13. We must be able to initiate struggles and collectively utilize all available mobilization tools: because we will achieve nothing without mobilizing, and our victories must improve daily life and dispel fear and hatred. As an added bonus, the far right is particularly inaudible when we occupy the social sphere. From petitions to strikes, from union information meetings to public events, let's amplify our united visibility to achieve concrete victories that advance equality and workers' rights.
Unite and go back on the offensive
Let's not delay and let's rise to the occasion by facing up to what we are currently doing and what we could be doing. We won't be able to say " we didn't know " .
Trade unionism is a pragmatic approach to everyday life. But we all have a responsibility in our actions during this period. If we create division at a time of rising danger, we weaken our capacity to resist. And this resistance can manifest itself in many ways, at every level.
Whether through pacts, alliances, or coalitions, we have an urgent need to prevent the worst. We can make a difference and build a viable alternative. And if we counterattack together, we might even develop a taste for it and transform this urgency into strength to write a major new chapter in the history of unionism for the benefit of workers.
Simon Duteil
To validate
[1] Find the full article on https://blogs.mediapart.fr/simon-duteil/blog/110326/des-pistes-pour-agir-syndicalement-contre-lextreme-droite .
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Point-de-vue-comment-agir-syndicalement-contre-l-extreme-droite
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Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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