FRANCINE Bavay from the French trade union SUD (Solidarity, Unity, Democracy) last week spoke about the background to the December strike movement to a packed meeting organised by Trade Union News.
French Prime Minister Juppe's social security plan came as a big shock after Chirac's populist Presidential piatora.
The government announced at the same time a massive one-third reduction in the rail budget. including the closure of one-third of the rural netWUTK At first the plans were quietly reParis Metro went on strike on November 24, staying out for the duration of the events. The strike movement rap. idiy spread to other public sector workers.
At France Telecom where Pance Wonc on wark ers to take action. 21 per cent went on indemnne sinke whil olbers, keeping their powder dry for the forthcoming on days of major demonstrations.
The movement spread throughout France—-although it was most dependence on public sector employment is greatest. the private sector, although private sector workers generally supported it as a proxy for their own action in more difficult circumstances.
The Communist Party-led Confederation General du Travail (CGT) leadership only called for the withdrawal of the plan under pressure from militants at its annual conference. The Force Ouvriere confederation unusually took a militant line. Joint CGT-FO demonstrations were war split in 1947.
ine croi union icaocsmip, closc to the Socialist Party, supported the government throughout. However. rank and file CFDT members fully participated.
Underthe impact of the strikes Juppe was forced to withdraw much pension contribution years and the enFrench unions were oble to draw milions of youth into struggle The increase in social security con. inbutions went through though Francine explained that it had not those, such as the rail workers, who The December movement has changed the balance of forces in French society, which would make the inevitable further attacks much more difficult.
A realignment reflecting this new reality within the French trade union movement is now taking place. The CFDT is now openly divided as a result of its leaderships betrayal of the morement and its refusal to hold an emergency conference to discuss its role.
Already 700 rail workers centred on the Gare du Lyons and the Marne Valley have voted to join SUD.
Given that only about ten per cent in the best organised sectors in Prancc, tis is courvaient to pernap: 7.000 in British terms. Further splits from the CFDT can be anticipated.
SUD was itself formed in 1988 as a split from the CFDT and will soon pc inc majony umion in trance cic com and is growing rapidly in the postal service.
sub is ico Dy minitants on tae tel left and members of the Ligue Communiste Révolutionnaire, French section of the Fourth Intenational, play a leading rolc.
Finally Francine called for support for and participation in a proposed European wide demonstration against unemployment, planned to coincide with the forthcoming InterGovernmental Conference on the Maastricht process.
Socialist Outlook 97 • February 17, 1996.