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| Union syndicale Solidaires | |
|---|---|
| Name | Union syndicale Solidaires |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
Union syndicale Solidaires is a French trade union federation formed from a coalition of militant unions and federations active in industrial, public, and cultural sectors. It traces roots to social movements and splinter groups from established federations, and it positions itself within a tradition of rank-and-file militancy associated with European left-wing currents. The federation has played roles in national strikes, social movements, and international solidarity campaigns.
Solidaires emerged in the late 20th century amid splits and realignments involving unions such as Confédération générale du travail and Force Ouvrière, with antecedents in the May 1968 events in France and the 1970s oil crisis. Early participating organizations included activists linked to the Ligue communiste révolutionnaire, the Nouveau Parti anticapitaliste, and currents influenced by anarcho-syndicalist traditions like those associated with the Confédération nationale du travail (France). The federation formalized cooperation during the 1990s and early 2000s, aligning with protests against policies of administrations including those of François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, and Nicolas Sarkozy. Solidaires played visible roles in demonstrations against reforms tied to the European Union treaties such as the Treaty of Maastricht and later labor reforms pursued under François Hollande and Emmanuel Macron.
The federation is organized as a coalition of affiliated unions and federations with a federal secretariat and coordinating committees modeled on traditions from the CGT (Confédération générale du travail), albeit with a less centralized structure reflecting influences from anarcho-syndicalism and decentralist practices associated with groups like Solidarity (Poland). Decision-making combines national congresses, sectoral federations for sectors such as transport, education, postal services, and healthcare, and local workplace committees mirroring structures found in the Confédération paysanne for rural representation. Leadership is collective and rotating, echoing methods used by Syndicalisme révolutionnaire movements and activist networks tied to the Alter-globalization mobilizations.
Solidaires situates itself on the anti-capitalist, anti-neoliberal left, drawing intellectual and tactical inspiration from figures and movements such as Noam Chomsky, the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, and anti-globalization protests like the Battle of Seattle. It opposes austerity measures associated with policies promoted by institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, and campaigns for labor law protection in opposition to reforms like the El Khomri law. The federation supports direct action, workplace self-organization, and international solidarity, aligning at times with parties such as the France Insoumise and alliances including the Left Front (France), while also maintaining critical distance from hierarchical party structures similar to critiques made by the Trotskyist tradition.
Affiliates include sectoral unions from public services, culture, education, postal and transportation sectors with parallels to organizations like the Fédération Syndicale Unitaire and the SUD-Rail grouping. Member bodies draw activists from trades represented historically by the Syndicat national des enseignants and cultural workers similar to those in SACEM-related unions. Composition spans municipal employees, hospital staff, teachers, sanitation workers, and postal employees, reflecting industrial mixes comparable to those in federations such as the CGT and CFDT (Confédération française démocratique du travail), but with a distinct activist culture informed by networks connected to the Fédération anarchiste and other libertarian socialist organizations.
Solidaires has organized and participated in nationwide strikes, general strikes, and sectoral walkouts during major mobilizations such as protests against pension reforms and labor market deregulation resembling actions seen during the 2010–2012 Greek protests and the Spanish Indignados movement. The federation is active in workplace defense campaigns, anti-racism and migrant rights initiatives paralleling efforts by groups like GISTI, and supports international solidarity campaigns linked to movements such as Palestinian solidarity and labor struggles in Turkey and Brazil. It also engages in workplace bargaining, legal support for dismissed workers similar to practices in Workers' Inquiry campaigns, and public demonstrations in coordination with student groups like the Union Nationale Lycéenne.
Relations with major confederations such as the CGT (Confédération générale du travail), CFDT (Confédération française démocratique du travail), and Force Ouvrière are competitive and cooperative depending on context; Solidaires often coordinates joint actions but maintains distinct tactics and political autonomy reminiscent of plural left coordination models like those between Syriza-aligned unions and independent federations. The federation has both collaborated with and criticized parties including La France Insoumise, Parti communiste français, and segments of the New Anti-Capitalist Party over strategy, parliamentary engagement, and priorities in industrial action.
Critics from mainstream union federations and centrist parties argue that Solidaires' direct-action orientation risks fragmentation of broader labor unity, echoing debates similar to tensions between the Labour Party (UK) and militant unions in historical disputes such as those surrounding the Winter of Discontent. Some commentators accuse elements within the federation of sectarianism or insufficient engagement in institutional bargaining compared with federations like the CFDT, while opponents on the right criticize its alliances with radical movements including associations tied to the Extinction Rebellion-style tactics. Internal controversies have arisen over candidate endorsements in elections and tactical disagreements mirroring disputes in other leftist federations such as splits experienced by the Socialist Party (France).
Category:Trade unions in France Category:French left-wing organizations Category:Labour movement