From our journalists in Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Paris,
Hard to miss them. At the head of the procession, it is they who set the mood in the Old Port of Marseille. Standing on a van, disguised as a carrot or a spiderman, the activists of the CGT Energie des Bouches-du-Rhône delight the young demonstrators who follow them. The playlist has a lot to do with it: without cutting the international tradition, the speakers spit out the favorite hits of young Marseilles, which range from very danceable In fire from Soprano to the Corsican federator La Goffa Lolita.
And what about the anthem “We are the CGT”, sung in demonstration and become ultra-popular on youth networks like TikTok? Sign that something to change on the side of the confederation: “We feel that, again, the CGT has regained strength”, rejoices Françoise, who celebrates her 31st birthday under the red banner at the local union of La Rose. The renewed mobilization at the call of the trade unions is also very important on the subject according to these activists familiar with social conflicts “Pension is a subject which is quite buoyant because it affects everyone”, analyzes Lionel Arbiol, delegate CGT at the Esso refinery in Fos-sur-Mer. “The CGT has always been in the battles and given an impetus, abounds Noël, another long-time union representative on the port of Marseille. But there, we feel something new. Even those who usually didn’t go on strike thinking it was dead are mobilizing with us. »
Finished the image of “sausage cookers” and thank you “Fifi”
In the Parisian procession, Stéphanie Lepera, 40, firefighter at SDIS 91 and unionized at the confederation makes the same observation: “It’s over this old-fashioned image of “sausage cookers”. Since the announcement of the reform, registrations are done in droves.” Even the executives get involved, as Christian, an engineer in a consulting firm in the Hauts-de-Seine, testifies: “It’s a small company, 80% of executives, and we have recorded ten memberships over the last three weeks.” A success that is reflected in particular by enthusiasm among the youngest like Lénaïg and Grégoire, 20 and 21 years old respectively: “Many of us have a political and social conscience and the CGT, it’s the union that makes the most noise. And then there’s Fifi! ” An affectionate nickname given to Philippe Martinez, general secretary of the confederation. The man who will leave his seat at the end of the month is a charming asset certain for young people: “He has a lot of charisma, he fights while remaining t Always very calm, clear but firm, he makes you want to follow him,” confides Solveig, a student in the procession, while a speaker spits Rage against the machine in front of the Cirque d’Hiver.
If he does not follow all the trends of young people, Cédric Caubère, the departmental secretary of CGT 31, present at the Toulouse demonstration, noted “a package of memberships”. No later than this Thursday, before the procession started in Toulouse, a comrade asked him for “10 cards”. In Occitania, since the start of the mobilization, “53% of the hundreds of new members have been women and 35% are under 35”. Among these young newcomers, there is Clément, 29, two days on the card and already a red flag in his hand, behind the white CGT truck which sends Iron Maiden. “I don’t know if it’s a trend, but I have lots of other friends who will also do it to defend our profession”, explains the extracurricular animator.
“These are the ones we see the most when we arrive at a demonstration”
Philippe is part of the brand new CGT 31 Union of Students, High School Students and Apprentices. A movement that informs its members via Instagram. Does he have the impression of dusting off the old central trade union? He remains modest: “We are here to learn and take the experience of the elders, and to help with our own means”. Jean-Philippe, an activist for the CGT des transports publics, who doesn’t even have Facebook, finds that the elders remain more effective than the young in blocking bus depots. But “on information and instant mobilization”, he bowed on Wednesday, in the middle of the round on the annual salary negotiations at Tisséo, “everyone was able to follow the meeting live, our demands and the management’s responses . It was the first time,” admits the seasoned trade unionist.
A first also in Lyon for Victor, 16, who grabbed a flocked red flag “CGT 69” to parade proudly in the capital of Gaul. “These are the ones we see the most when we arrive at a demonstration”, he justifies before specifying that he does not know which union to choose once an employee. Emma, she knows. Dressed in a CGT bib, this 18-year-old woman claims to have “the vest in her skin”. “My mother was unionized for years, it’s like a parental legacy. For me, it is the CGT that best represents all workers, ”she says confidently. It is not João Perreira Afonso, general secretary of the Rhône Departmental Union who will say the opposite. He also notes that “more and more people are joining the processions during calls to demonstrate”.
More and more memberships for all unions
And the ranks of the union are growing with it. “Since the start of the mobilization against the pension reform, our standards have exploded,” he says. In a few weeks, we had an increase from 12,000 to 14,000 in requests for membership at the national level. “A finding shared on the side of Force Ouvrière 69. Frédéric Volle, member of the office, also notes “between 50 and 100 new memberships per week”. “We have many requests from all trades. We feel that we need to organize ourselves collectively,” he admits. “Never seen” for these leaders who stress that, “for the first time in ten years, all the unions have united”. “The most important thing in the movement is trade union unity”, sums up Agnès, 63, non-unionized but “protester from the start”.
A success that does not provoke the jealousy of other organisations, as explained by Arthur*, CFTC departmental delegate, looking at some young people decked out in CGT stickers on a sidewalk in Paris: “It shows above all that young people are interested in their future, and if it works for the shop opposite, it will affect the other unions. »
*Name has been changed