France's CFDT trade union confederation held its 45th national congress on 27-31 May 2002. François Chérèque was elected as general secretary, succeeding Nicole Notat who was not seeking re-election after 10 years in the post. The report on activities tabled by the outgoing general secretary was endorsed by a large majority of delegates (78%), the statutes were amended and a number of resolutions were adopted.
Download article in original language : FR0206103NFR.DOC
France's CFDT trade union confederation held its 45th national congress on 27-31 May 2002. François Chérèque was elected as general secretary, succeeding Nicole Notat who was not seeking re-election after 10 years in the post. The report on activities tabled by the outgoing general secretary was endorsed by a large majority of delegates (78%), the statutes were amended and a number of resolutions were adopted.
The French Democratic Confederation of Labour (Confédération française démocratique du travail, CFDT) held its 45th national congress in Nantes from 27 to 31 May 2002. CFDT is one of France's five nationally representative trade union confederation s.
The outgoing general secretary, Nicole Notat, presented the 1999-2002 report on CFDT's activities to the convention. In her presentation, she highlighted the impact of globalisation on jobs and companies' activities and emphasised CFDT's stances on sustainable development and greater European political integration based on federal government and strong social policy. She also stressed CFDT's resolve to foster new 'levers' and areas of action, in particular through the creation of employee savings schemes (FR0203103N). In relation to national issues, Ms Notat expressed satisfaction at the overhaul of the unemployment insurance system with the implementation of the 'back-to-work assistance plan' (Plan d'aide au retour à l'emploi, PARE) scheme (FR0101114F), and the advent of 'universal health insurance' (Couverture maladie universelle, CMU) scheme (FR0001135F).
On the issues of collective bargaining and the relationship between the social partners in France, Ms Notat lamented the 'major misunderstanding', which characterised relations with the government during the social partners' 'industrial relations overhaul' project of 2000-1 (FR0111123F), as the government proved, among other things, 'incapable of developing a structured and seamless industrial relations policy based on social dialogue and collective bargaining'. As far as the 35-hour working week and the reduction of working time (FR0001137F) are concerned, the activity report refers to them as indisputable act of social progress and an industrial relations victory, the implementation of which remains incomplete in areas such as the civil service (FR0110113F), small and medium-sized companies (FR0110108F) and the craft industry.
Lastly, the report takes stock of CFDT's input into the 'industrial relations overhaul' initiative (FR0102134F), which Ms Notat considered has enabled CFDT to fine-tune its assessment of, and proposals on, the legitimacy and representative status of the social partners (FR0006170F) as well as on the issue of the validity of collective agreements. She went on to say that, in her opinion, the initiative had also made possible a public and political debate on the role of legislation, collective bargaining and on the various features of social democracy. However, Ms Notat pointed out in her presentation that the initiative had led to disagreement within both employers' associations and the trade union movement. CFDT has, however, strengthened its position within the latter. She was keen to stress the increase in CFDT membership, which, according to the union confederation's own statistics, now stands at 865,528, of whom 43.50% are women. She also underscored CFDT gains among employees in small and medium-sized companies.
The activity report was supported by the majority of delegates at the congress (78%). This level of support was even greater than the 73% of delegates that endorsed the report in 1998 and was in contrast to Ms Notat's first congress as general secretary in 1995, which saw the report rejected by 52% of delegates (FR9902154F).
The Nantes congress passed five resolutions on: 'developing full employment'; 'quality jobs'; 'meeting the welfare challenge'; 'the state and the civil service: boosting efficiency'; and 'a strong, effective and attractive CFDT'. CFDT's statutes were amended to include: provision for a congress every four years; a bigger role for women; more effective input from retired members and their specific organisations in CFDT; and a greater role for regional unions of retirees.
On international and European issues, CFDT adopted a statement entitled 'the world we want'. This statement advocates regulated globalisation providing for genuine cooperation between international organisations, in particular between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and between the ILO, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
The Nantes congress elected the 10 members of the CFDT executive committee. It also elected François Chérèque as general secretary after Ms Notat had announced several months previously that she would be stepping down after 10 years at the helm of CFDT (FR0110104N).
In his closing statement, the new general secretary focused on the need to strengthen and rally CFDT and, in particular, put forward the goal of increasing its membership to 1,200,000 over the next five years.
Eurofound recommends citing this publication in the following way.
Eurofound (2002), CFDT holds 45th congress, article.
