CGT-CFDT Relations: ‘Conflictual Unity’?

As the preceding chapter revealed, the two most powerful unions, the CGT and CFDT, often co-operate during the course of strikes, forming joint strike committees, setting common demands and bargaining together with management. On the other hand, these two unions are much less likely to form working coalitions with the ‘moderate’ unions — FO, CTFC, and CGC.1 There are several practical reasons for CGT-CFDT co-operation. First, as these militants admit, and other research demonstrates, ‘unity of action’ (unité d’action) between the CGT and CFDT enhances their effectiveness. Individually, the two unions possess limited capacity to mobilise workers and confront management from a position of strength. Together, however, they are much better able to attract worker support, control strike action, and wrest concessions from management.2 The CGT and CFDT, moreover, often co-operate because workers demand it. Militants of both unions assert that workers complain about union division, constantly asking them, ‘Why don’t you guys get together?’ Finally these unions co-operate frequently out of their common ideological opposition to capitalism.