UNSA joins European Trade Union Confederation

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France's National Federation of Independent Unions (UNSA) was admitted to membership of the European Trade Union Confederation on 20 May 1999, in the context of a partnership deal struck with the CFDT union confederation in October 1998.

The National Federation of Independent Unions (Union nationale des syndicats autonomes, UNSA) was founded in 1993, and includes many independent trade unions, notably including the Federation of National Education (Fédération de l'Éducation nationale, FEN).

Since its creation, UNSA has had a working relationship with the CFDT union confederation. In mid-October 1998, UNSA and CFDT concluded a "partnership contract on Europe" (FR9811139F). Under the terms of this agreement, the two organisations decided to "speak with one voice on European matters". CFDT was thus committed to supporting UNSA's application for membership of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).Furthermore, the agreement stated that it would lead to "UNSA and CFDT constituting a single delegation within ETUC, with a mandate to vote and take positions in the name of the members of both organisations".

Its application having previously been unsuccessful on 16 March 1999 (FR9903167N), on 20 May UNSA was granted membership of the ETUC, with almost total unanimity amongst member organisations (France's CGT-FO voted against, while Belgium's FGTB/ABVV and Luxembourg's CGT/OGB-L abstained). All the French unions apart from CGT-FO supported UNSA's membership. CFTC, which had previously voted against it on 16 March, did not do so this time. CGT, a new ETUC member since March, gave a positive vote "in order to allow a broader spectrum of French unionism to be reflected".

Five French union organisations are now members of the ETUC - CFDT, CFTC, CGT, CGT-FO and UNSA.