Since its split of the French CNT in autumn 2012, the CNT Solidarity workers opted for
pragmatism, assuming the fact salarier activists. Successfully. Remains to share the
anarcho-syndicalist project and its member participants. ---- "Focusing intervention in
the most precarious sectors: construction, retail, hospitality, cleaning, restoration" :
the implementation strategy of the CNT-SO is contained in this sentence, taken from the
motion direction of its first congress Confederal. It was held from 1 to 3 November 2013
The Freychede (Ari?ge) and took stock of the first twelve months of operation of the
CNT-SO [ 1 ]. ---- Twelve months of proactive construction, with already struggles fought
and won. Built around the CNT-cleaning the Paris region, it intends to continue its
development through the creation of new unions from sectors with a largely immigrant
workforce. Finally areas where despite the presence of other unions (often "houses"), is
sorely lacking a feisty and independent employers working alternative.
Bet difficult, as union work is thankless and exhausting (constant prud'homale procedures,
permanent administrative monitoring). Bet, however, in part if we take into account real
success in terms of creation of unions in Lyon among others. Even if there are related to
the world of communication structures, health, social, education (as in Marseille where
the CNT education joined the CNT-SO) or the computer (CNT-IIC also switched), it should be
noted that the bulk of its implementation is among the workers. At Perpignan, dumped,
Paca, in the cooperative building Energy Bat, or in Paris, Disneyland.
Union wins
On the asset side of the very young confederation, some union victories give him even more
credibility and visibility. At the Park Hyatt Paris-Vend?me, in September 2013, an
agreement with a company subcontracts following a strike, long weeks, led by CNT-SO with
the CGT. Another strike, the employee-es of society TFN Cleanliness Southeast, the call of
the single CNT-SO, collected 95% of strikers December 6, 2013 in Lyon.
If the CNT-SO remains a modest size (between 1200 and 1500 and adherent members), its
mapping hexagonal layout tends to stretch over months. Headquartered in Paris, Perpignan
and Lyon, it has since expanded its influence in Le Havre, Marseille, and more recently in
Menton (in the urban transport company Postbus Riviera).
This growth, albeit relative, is nevertheless real. And one explanation is the proactive
development policy, which covers here and there off. It was a heated debate in the CNT-f
debate before the split, the CNT-SO ruled and made the choice to pay salaries comrades to
face the enormous administrative task, legal and development.
These activists are not idle. Legal employee of the CNT-SO in the Paris region pleads no
less than 60 cases per month Prud'hommes. In Lyon, the fact salarier activist on these
legal questions, it also (and especially) Clear time to "turn" on site.
To a mass union project
Moreover, in connection with this quantitative development, a fundamental question: that
relating to training. The CNT-SO, emphasizing its implementation in less unionized and
particularly precarious sectors is a strategic choice that is not without contradiction.
While historically in France, the revolutionary CNT-f-syndicalist CGT, the
anarcho-syndicalism has always been the choice of unionism "militant", the CNT-SO tends to
favor an original track made pragmatism and opening up a shop project mass.
The CNT-SO is also well aware of this challenge: to avoid a rift between militant "elite"
conscious and ideologically coherent and a "base" and combative working but foreign to the
anarcho-syndicalist project, a partnership has been established with the Institute Culture
and Freedom [ 2 ] with already two training cycles. Objective: To make members and
acceding actors and actresses of their trade union action. This is its viability as an
organization claiming self-management ideals.
Another substantive issue, finally, relates to its actual development space in the
landscape of class struggle unionism (CNT-f, Solidarity, some sectors of the CGT) already
quite congested. The future will show whether this gap exists for this CNT-SO that means
out anarcho-syndicalism its marginal character.
Jeremiah Berthuin (AL Gard)
[ 1 ] Read "CNT: after the split, what future? " Alternative libertarian in January 2013.
[ 2 ] Culture and Freedom is a popular education movement. More information:
www.culture-et-liberte.asso.fr/
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