Confédération Générale du Travail

Confédération Générale du Travail
Name	Confédération Générale du Travail
Founded	23 September 1895
Location	Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France
Key people	Sophie Binet (General Secretary)
Affiliation	International Trade Union Confederation, European Trade Union Confederation

Confédération Générale du Travail. The Confédération Générale du Travail is the largest and one of the oldest trade union confederations in France, founded in 1895. It has played a central role in shaping the country's labour law and social model through historic strikes and political engagement. The union is known for its commitment to class struggle, social justice, and the defense of public services, maintaining a significant presence across both the public and private sectors.

History

The CGT was founded at a congress in Limoges in September 1895, unifying various local Bourse du Travail and trade federations. Its early years were marked by revolutionary syndicalism and a commitment to direct action, as articulated in the Charter of Amiens of 1906, which declared union independence from political parties. The organization was deeply divided during World War I between pacifist and nationalist factions, and later faced further splits, notably with the departure of reformist elements to form CFTC in 1919. The interwar period saw the CGT's influence grow, but it fractured again in 1939 over the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. It was reunified in the resistance against the Vichy regime and emerged powerfully after Liberation, leading massive strikes in 1947 and 1968. The late 20th century saw it navigating deindustrialization and the rise of neoliberalism, remaining a pivotal force in protests against policies like the First Employment Contract in 2006 and the 2010 and 2023 pension reforms.

Organization and structure

The CGT is structured as a confederation of industrial federations, such as the powerful CGT Cheminots for railway workers and the CGT Metallurgy for metalworkers, and regional unions based in each French department. Its supreme governing body is the Confederal Congress, held every three years, which elects a Confederal Bureau and a General Secretary. The union maintains a significant presence in key public enterprises like SNCF and EDF, as well as in the civil service. Its headquarters are located in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, at a historic site known as the "Maison des syndicats." The CGT also publishes the daily newspaper L'Humanité (though independently owned) and the weekly La Vie ouvrière.

Ideology and political orientation

Historically rooted in revolutionary syndicalism and later influenced by Marxism, the CGT's ideology is traditionally anchored in the concept of class struggle. While formally independent from any political party since the Charter of Amiens, it maintained a close, albeit often contentious, relationship with the French Communist Party throughout much of the 20th century. The union advocates for the socialization of key industries, robust welfare state protections, and the expansion of workers' rights. It is strongly opposed to neoliberalism, austerity measures, and the policies of the European Union that it views as promoting social dumping, positioning itself as a defender of the French social model.

Major activities and campaigns

The CGT has been at the forefront of most major social movements in modern France. It was instrumental in achieving the Matignon Agreements of 1936, which established paid vacations and the 40-hour workweek. It led the general strike of May 1968 and the massive public sector strikes of November–December 1995 against the Juppé plan. In the 21st century, it has organized and participated in repeated national days of action and strikes, most notably against the First Employment Contract (CPE) in 2006, the 2010 pension reform under President Nicolas Sarkozy, and the 2023 pension reform under President Emmanuel Macron. Its campaigns consistently focus on defending pensions, opposing privatization, and fighting precarious employment.

Relationship with other trade unions

The CGT operates within a pluralistic French union landscape characterized by competition and occasional unity. It has a long-standing rivalry with the more reformist CFDT, though the two have sometimes coordinated actions, as during the 2003 pension protests. Relations with the smaller, more militant FO are often strained over strategic differences. The CGT is a founding member of the International Trade Union Confederation and the European Trade Union Confederation, but it frequently adopts more critical stances within these bodies compared to other European unions. It also maintains fraternal relations with other unions worldwide through the World Federation of Trade Unions.

Leadership and notable figures

Throughout its history, the CGT has been led by influential figures who shaped the French labor movement. Early leaders included revolutionary syndicalists like Victor Griffuelhes and Léon Jouhaux, the latter serving as General Secretary for nearly five decades and receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1951. The powerful postwar period was dominated by Benoît Frachon and later Georges Séguy, who led the union during May 1968. More recent General Secretaries include Bernard Thibault, who modernized the union's image in the 2000s, Philippe Martinez, who led the confrontations against the Macron administration, and the current leader, Sophie Binet, elected in 2023 as the first woman to hold the position. Other notable figures include the resister Louis Saillant and the longtime leader of its railway federation, Louis Viannet.

Category:Trade unions in France Category:Organizations established in 1895 Category:National trade union centers