Confédération Française Démocratique du Travail
Encyclopedia
The French Democratic Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center
, one of the five major French
confederations of trade union
s, led since 2002 by François Chérèque. It is the largest French trade union confederation by number of members (875,000) but comes only second after the Confédération générale du travail
(CGT) in voting results for representative bodies.
(CFTC) decided to become secular. The minority kept the name CFTC.
At first, under the lead of Eugène Descamps, the CFDT presented itself like a social-democratic confederation close to the Unified Socialist Party
(Parti socialiste unifié or PSU) which was led by Pierre Mendès-France
. It came to terms with the CGT, which was dominated by the Communist Party. This alliance took a part in the May 68 upheaval. Then, the CFDT was auto-gestionary
.
In 1974, many PSU and CFDT members joined the Socialist Party
(Parti socialiste or PS) led by François Mitterrand
. Behind Michel Rocard
, they formed an internal opposition called "the second left". They abandoned the auto-gestionary project and advocated an alignment on the European social-democracy. In the same time, under the lead of Edmond Maire, the CFDT cut its links with the CGT.
In the 1980s, after François Mitterrand
's election and his choice to follow Socialist economic policies, the CFDT appeared like a pro-governmental organization. During this time a lot of members and voters were lost. In the 1990s, under the lead of Nicole Notat
, the CFDT chose a strategy of independence towards PS. In this, it supported Alain Juppé
's plan of Welfare State reform. It replaced FO
like "main partner" of employers and right-wing governments, and to the presidence of social security offices.
In 2003, the support of the new CFDT leader François Chérèque of the plan of pensions reform caused an internal crisis. Some CFDT members left the confederation and chose the CGT or the autonomous trade unions SUD
. However, the CFDT participated with the other confederations to the 2006 conflict about the Contrat première embauche (CPE).
National trade union center
A national trade union center is a federation or confederation of trade unions in a single country. Nearly every country in the world has a national trade union center, and many have more than one. When there is more than one national center, it is often because of ideological differences—in some...
, one of the five major French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
confederations of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s, led since 2002 by François Chérèque. It is the largest French trade union confederation by number of members (875,000) but comes only second after the Confédération générale du travail
Confédération générale du travail
The General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
(CGT) in voting results for representative bodies.
History
The CFDT was created in 1964 when a majority of the members of the Christian trade union Confédération Française des Travailleurs ChrétiensConfédération Française des Travailleurs Chrétiens
-External links:*...
(CFTC) decided to become secular. The minority kept the name CFTC.
At first, under the lead of Eugène Descamps, the CFDT presented itself like a social-democratic confederation close to the Unified Socialist Party
Unified Socialist Party (France)
The Unified Socialist Party was a socialist political party in France, founded on April 3, 1960. It was originally led by Édouard Depreux , and by Michel Rocard .- History :...
(Parti socialiste unifié or PSU) which was led by Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès-France
Pierre Mendès France was a French politician. He descended from a Portuguese Jewish family that moved to France in the sixteenth century.-Third Republic and World War II:...
. It came to terms with the CGT, which was dominated by the Communist Party. This alliance took a part in the May 68 upheaval. Then, the CFDT was auto-gestionary
Workers' self-management
Worker self-management is a form of workplace decision-making in which the workers themselves agree on choices instead of an owner or traditional supervisor telling workers what to do, how to do it and where to do it...
.
In 1974, many PSU and CFDT members joined the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (France)
The Socialist Party is a social-democratic political party in France and the largest party of the French centre-left. It is one of the two major contemporary political parties in France, along with the center-right Union for a Popular Movement...
(Parti socialiste or PS) led by François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
. Behind Michel Rocard
Michel Rocard
Michel Rocard is a French politician, member of the Socialist Party . He served as Prime Minister under François Mitterrand from 1988 to 1991, during which he created the Revenu minimum d'insertion , a social minimum welfare program for indigents, and led the Matignon Accords regarding the status...
, they formed an internal opposition called "the second left". They abandoned the auto-gestionary project and advocated an alignment on the European social-democracy. In the same time, under the lead of Edmond Maire, the CFDT cut its links with the CGT.
In the 1980s, after François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
's election and his choice to follow Socialist economic policies, the CFDT appeared like a pro-governmental organization. During this time a lot of members and voters were lost. In the 1990s, under the lead of Nicole Notat
Nicole Notat
Nicole Notat, born 26 July 1947 in Châtrices, Marne, is the former secretary general of the union CFDT. She is currently founder and president of Vigeo, a company committed to a concept of sustainable development....
, the CFDT chose a strategy of independence towards PS. In this, it supported Alain Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
's plan of Welfare State reform. It replaced FO
Force Ouvrière
The General Confederation of Labor - Workers' Force is one of the five major union federations in France. In terms of following, it is the third behind the CGT and the CFDT....
like "main partner" of employers and right-wing governments, and to the presidence of social security offices.
In 2003, the support of the new CFDT leader François Chérèque of the plan of pensions reform caused an internal crisis. Some CFDT members left the confederation and chose the CGT or the autonomous trade unions SUD
Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques
The Solidaires or Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques is a French group of trade unions.-Political position:They tend to favor progressive or even radical views and work with the alter-globalization or anti-globalization movement....
. However, the CFDT participated with the other confederations to the 2006 conflict about the Contrat première embauche (CPE).
Professional Elections
The CFDT won 21.81% of the vote in the employee's college during the 2008 professional elections, making it the second largest trade union in terms of votes in those elections. This result, however, is below the CFDT's 25.23% result in 2002 and its top result to date, 25.35% in 1997.Famous members
- Eugène Descamps
- Jacques Chérèque
- Edmond Maire
- Nicole NotatNicole NotatNicole Notat, born 26 July 1947 in Châtrices, Marne, is the former secretary general of the union CFDT. She is currently founder and president of Vigeo, a company committed to a concept of sustainable development....
- François Chérèque
- Pierre RosanvallonPierre RosanvallonPierre Rosanvallon is a French intellectual and historian, named professor at the Collège de France in 2001. He holds there the chair in the modern and contemporary history of the political. His works are dedicated to the history of democracy, French political history, the role of the state and...
See also
- Politics of FrancePolitics of FranceFrance is a semi-presidential representative democratic republic, in which the President of France is head of state and the Prime Minister of France is the head of government, and there is a pluriform, multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is...
- Trade unions:
- Workers' ForceForce OuvrièreThe General Confederation of Labor - Workers' Force is one of the five major union federations in France. In terms of following, it is the third behind the CGT and the CFDT....
- French Confederation of Christian WorkersConfédération Française des Travailleurs Chrétiens-External links:*...
- General Confederation of LabourConfédération générale du travailThe General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
- French Confederation of Management - General Confederation of Executives
- Solidaires Unitaires DémocratiquesSolidaires Unitaires DémocratiquesThe Solidaires or Solidaires Unitaires Démocratiques is a French group of trade unions.-Political position:They tend to favor progressive or even radical views and work with the alter-globalization or anti-globalization movement....
- Workers' Force
- Trade unions:
- Mouvement des Entreprises de FranceMouvement des Entreprises de FranceThe Mouvement des Entreprises de France or MEDEF is the largest union of employers in France. It was formerly known as the Conseil National du Patronat Français or CNPF .It has more than 700,000 member firms, 90% are from SME, with fewer than 50 employees...