LFI tries to recover the trade union movement

The scene went on a loop, Wednesday, October 12, on the news channels continuously. Captured at the entrance to the Esso-ExxonMobil refinery in Port-Jérôme-Gravenchon (Seine-Maritime), the images show Mathilde Panot facing employees who have stopped working to demand an increase in their remuneration: “The great fear of the government is that these strikes will spread”, launched the president of the group La France insoumise (LFI) in the National Assembly, flanked by four other deputies from her training. Thursday, it was their colleague François Ruffin, elected in the Somme, who went to support the staff of the Total refinery in Gonfreville-l’Orcher (Seine-Maritime).

With the approach of the “great march against the high cost of living and climate inaction”, which they are organizing on Sunday, October 16 in Paris, the “rebellious” seek to take advantage of the social effervescence of the moment to push in the world’s largest street. “The strike creates a favorable atmosphereestimates the deputy (LFI, Seine-Saint-Denis) Alexis Corbière. It benefits the idea that our march is faithful to French social history and does not constitute the so-called “Trumpist putsch” evoked by enlightened Macronists. » Present, Wednesday evening, at the Paris meeting of the New Anti-Capitalist Party (NPA), the “rebellious” MP Clémentine Autain added: “The strikes take frankly and extend. Sunday, let’s support this movement and lead the showdown against the government. »

This mobilization of October 16, which was intended to be as broad as possible, will not, however, be full. For several weeks, discussions had been held between the various components of the New Popular, Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), associations, such as Attac and the Copernic Foundation, and unions (the CGT, the FSU, Solidaires) . Objective: to achieve a “convergence” struggles. But the national management of the three employee organizations finally decided not to call for a parade with LFI.

“Mélenchon often lectures us”

Several explanations are put forward by Philippe Martinez. “Our wish was to have more precise watchwords, but we were not heard much”, confides the number one of the CGT. He also admits to being “doubtful” faced with the national dimension of the operation, with a single procession deployed in Paris, which therefore does not grant any place “to initiatives closer to the territories”. To make matters worse, “decisions were made outside of meetings”. And the thoughts “thunderous” by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of LFI, about the unions judged “too timid” ended up getting tired, as Murielle Guilbert, co-delegate general of Solidaires, says. “He often lectures us and claims that we have understood nothing of the Amiens Charter”abounds Mr. Martinez about Mr. Mélenchon, evoking the text, adopted in 1906 by the CGT, which poses the principle of independence of trade unionism in relation to the parties.

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