The CGT calls for a strike on December 12, faced with a wave of social plans

The general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Sophie Binet, called, Wednesday November 27, “employees to go on strike and occupy their factories to prevent layoffs”as well as a day of mobilizations in front of factories and prefectures on December 12.

The CGT also calls “employees taking action to defend jobs and industry”she continued, believing that “nearly 250 layoff plans in preparation, affecting between 170,000 and 200,000 jobs” are in progress. Michelin, ArcelorMittal, Auchan, MA France… Social plans have been multiplying for several weeks in France, affecting all regions. The National Council of Judicial Administrators and Judicial Agents estimated the number of jobs threatened at around 150,000 in October.

A mobilization “open” to other unions

“There is an extremely fatalistic discourse that is maintained”judged M^me Binet, but “employee mobilization always changes the situation, there is never anything inevitable in terms of employment”. “There is nothing worse than unemployment”she insisted.

On December 12, the second national trade union organization – behind the CFDT – called on employees “to mobilize in unity to defend their jobs and the industry”.

Asked about the position of the inter-union on the day of December 12 and the desire of other union organizations to join this mobilization, Sophie Binet specified that this day was “open to all”. “I hope it will expand”she said. “Today, the mobilizations are united in the companies which are organizing against job cuts and each time there is a united inter-union union” on the sites concerned, she assured.