2023-05-01 17:55:10
CFDT, CGT, FO, but also the Luxembourg OGBL, the Italian CGIL, the Swiss Unia or even the South Korean KMWU… Behind the usual flags of the French unions, other banners floated at the head of the Paris parade of the 1st- May, giving a European and global dimension to the French gathering.
French officials had invited international counterparts, who had come “show us the solidarity of workers around the world”greets the general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet. “They are very surprised by the attitude of the government: at home, they tell us, the reform would have been withdrawn a long time ago in the face of such mobilization! » If Iranians, Colombians or Americans are there, the majority are Europeans, sharing their astonishment at the union unity, the strength of the mobilization and the government’s response.
“The first austerity reform in Europe”
“This repression against activists, this way of using data: it surprises us a lot from France and the idea that we had of its democracy”testifies Roman Kunzler, head of the transport branch of the Unia, the first Swiss union, who came “welcome trade union unity in the face of a government that is taking an undemocratic turn”.
“This surprises us a lot in Switzerland, where we vote on everything: such a way of forcing through would not have been possible”assures the trade union official of a country where the retirement age is already 65 years. “But our right would still like to go further”he worries, convinced that “All over Europe there are attacks on workers’ rights”.
“The French reform is the first austerity reform in Europe: that is why we must be vigilant”assures Esther Lynch, general secretary of the European Trade Union Conference (ETUC), chaired for a few more weeks by Laurent Berger.
Other governments might be tempted to force through
She is particularly concerned about “the way in which the French unions have been ignored by the government” and fear that “other governments are tempted not to respect the dialogue”. The French situation is therefore a test. “All governments watch each other: if one sees that the other succeeds in pushing through, it could try to do the same”worries the Irishwoman who coordinates the unions at European level.
“Whether in Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, we see significant mobilizations, it is important for us to be there to support the French”testifies Valentina Orazzini, responsible for international issues of the Fiom, the metallurgy branch of the CGIL, the main Italian union. “What impresses us is the unity of the movement both between unions, but also with society”, she admits, a bit admiringly. She hopes that the transalpine unions, although much stronger in terms of membership, will one day be capable of “real movement that crosses all generations”.
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