french Unions Advance Crisis Talks Amidst Looming Government Policy Speech & Potential Nationwide Protests
paris, France – Major French union confederations will convene this Friday morning to strategize their response to upcoming government policies, a move accelerated by Monday’s proclamation of a significant policy speech by François Bayrou on September 8th. The decision to move the inter-union meeting forward from its originally scheduled date next Monday was revealed by Frédéric Souillot, Secretary General of Force Ouvrière (FO), to Agence France-Presse.
The intersyndicale will not take place next Monday, it will take place on Friday morning
, Souillot stated, emphasizing the urgency prompted by Bayrou’s address, which is expected to focus on the need for fiscal responsibility and “deleveraging” France’s economy.The meeting comes as unions prepare to formulate a unified stance against the government’s budgetary plans unveiled in mid-July. A key point of contention is the potential for widespread disruption, with a call to Block the country
on September 10th gaining traction on social media. Several CGT and Solidaires federations and departmental branches have already signaled their support for the planned action.
Souillot clarified that the inter-union – representing CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, UNSA, and Solidaires – has not yet taken a definitive position on the September 10th protests. We did not stop a position compared to September 10. We will stop our position in an inter-union
, he explained, following FO’s confederal office meeting on Monday.
The union leader also addressed calls for a general strike, notably those emanating from political figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Souillot noted the irony of politicians seeking to capitalize on union mobilization, stating, When politicians want to resume union mobilizations and when I hear some parties calling for a general strike, each in place
.
While maintaining a cautious distance from the September 10th movement, Souillot expressed reservations about the composition of the groups organizing the protests. I stick to it at a distance
, he said, adding, I’m not sure that, in all groups that call for mobilizing on september 10, there are groups that all want representative trade union organizations
. However,he firmly placed the responsibility for escalating tensions with the government. But in any case,those who declared war on workers,is the executive
,Souillot asserted.
Looking ahead, Souillot anticipates the need for significant worker mobilization irrespective of the outcome of the September 8th vote of confidence. He warned against what he termed a Lépine competition of bad ideas and social violence against workers
, arguing that Whatever the vote of confidence of September 8, I think that it takes a mobilization of workers because… this must stop
.
Analysis:
This situation highlights the growing discontent among French labor unions regarding the government’s economic policies. The accelerated timeline for the inter-union meeting underscores the perceived urgency and the potential for a significant showdown in the coming weeks. The September 8th policy speech will be a critical moment, and the unions’ response will likely shape the trajectory of social unrest in France. The divergence in opinion regarding the September 10th protests – with some unions cautiously supporting the movement while others maintain a more reserved stance – suggests a complex and perhaps fractured response to the government’s actions.
