A-Infos (en) France, UCL AL #374 - Antifascism - Viewpoint: How can trade unions take action against the far right ? (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Work is a central arena for confronting the far-right tide and 
preventing the anticipated takeover of the state apparatus. For trade 
unions, it is fundamental to start from the everyday and concrete, to 
exchange ideas, and to build power with our colleagues. There is an 
urgent need to accelerate our actions and inter-union unity. Thirteen 
proposals to move in this direction.
Work is a central arena for confronting the far-right tide and 
preventing the anticipated takeover of the state apparatus. For trade 
unionism, it is fundamental to start from the everyday and the concrete, 
to exchange ideas, and to build power with our colleagues. There is an 
urgent need to accelerate our actions and inter-union unity. Thirteen 
proposals to move in this direction  [1].

Part of the far right's strength lies in the normalization of its 
rhetoric in spaces where it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to 
contradict it. Dehumanizing ideas can then become mainstream and 
commonplace. Where the far right's influence grows, so too do 
patriarchal, racist, LGBTQ+phobic, and ableist systems of domination, 
reinforcing the increasing dehumanization of a segment of the 
population, primarily in France: immigrants, people of color, and then 
quickly, "  woke  " activists, environmentalists, women, LGBTQ+ people, 
people with disabilities , and union members.

For millions of workers, daily interactions at work, however mundane 
they may seem, shape our opinions, behaviors, and social interactions, 
including political ones. This is where trade unionism is essential. 
Today, it represents the largest social force in this country in terms 
of membership numbers, sectoral and territorial presence, training 
programs, and more. It is a major tool for mobilization, concrete 
victories, solidarity, empowerment, and positive socialization.

Parisian demonstration of January 19, 2023.
Credits: Rémi Desprez
Let's face it: after the general surge of action in June and July 2024, 
our organizations have largely (re)immersed themselves in their daily 
operations, almost as if this situation didn't exist, as if the threat 
were going to disappear. Implementing our strategies and tactics in 
isolation has so far failed to reverse the strong trend toward the far 
right. Our collective efforts are extremely valuable. But can we, 
through ordinary action alone, truly confront an extraordinary threat ? 
It's time to break free from internal inertia and disrupt the status quo.

What to do ?
Here are some suggestions for rapid implementation, without claiming to 
offer a complete solution, much less to lecture our colleagues in the 
various union forces. They complement the daily work of defense, 
training, struggle, and discussion within our organizations, which 
remain central and essential.

1. Discuss this within our unions at all levels: we must seize this 
issue and make it a central element of our discussions. "  What are we 
doing to push back the far right ?  " "  What impact will this or that 
union decision/action have on this issue ?  " Each union has its own 
structure and culture, with different motivations. These discussions can 
be initiated at many levels; let's do it, always keeping in mind the 
importance of unity.

2. Joining your union to Vigilance et initiatives syndicales 
antifasciste (VISA) and building these inter-union collectives in our 
territories, for example at the departmental level: this allows both to 
strengthen a unified tool, but also to develop a regular and inter-union 
liaison space on the subject, as for example with the recent creation of 
a VISA 93.

VISA is an inter-union association composed of more than 300 structures 
mainly from the CGT, Solidaires, the FSU, with federations, local unions 
and departmental unions.
VISA is an inter-union association composed of more than 300 structures 
mainly from the CGT, Solidaires, the FSU, with federations, local unions 
and departmental unions.
Credits: Fragil/Juliette Ducornetz
3. Strengthen concrete union work and collectively reclaim divisive 
issues, which are being exploited by the far right, in order to move 
beyond them: this involves exchanging ideas with colleagues and working 
to translate what is currently being exploited at the individual level 
through rhetoric of fear, hatred, or division regarding working 
conditions into positive and progressive demands. By acting 
collectively, we push back the far right, as members of the Work and 
Democracy Workshops remind us.

4. Create spaces for discussion at work on a broad basis, starting with 
the defense of human rights and democratic freedoms: the goal is to come 
together as widely as possible, to break free from apathy and individual 
anxieties, and to rebuild collective confidence. It's also about 
enabling those who want to support each other, who are suffering during 
this period, who want to take action-including non-unionized colleagues 
- to find a space to act, whether informal or formal (collective, 
committee, etc.). And if, by 2027, the far right were to seize control 
of the state apparatus, the bonds forged could serve as a foundation of 
solidarity to unite, slow down, and prevent inhumane, particularly 
racist, policies, following the model of what we saw in Minneapolis.

5. Stop the subsidizing of the far right by works councils: Stérin box, 
stay at Puy du Fou, boycott of the Bolloré galaxy... We must put an end 
to these direct fundings and the unions can quite easily carry this out 
together in a maximum number of companies.

6. Leaving behind the tools of fascism: if we all have contradictions, 
it is time to close the X accounts (ex Twitter) that enrich Elon Musk 
and distort public debate to migrate to spaces that are more neutral in 
terms of algorithm (Bluesky) or free (Mastodon).

7. Working towards union unity, including electoral unity: the more we 
move forward together, the more we instill confidence in unionism among 
workers. Of course, this isn't possible everywhere. But in a time when 
we need to stand together, building unity, which requires effort, has 
never been more important. And we often have more in common than we 
realize. In fact, on this issue in various professional sectors, the 
responsibility most often falls on the "  largest  " union. The year 
2026 is particularly important in terms of workplace elections: we must 
avoid tensions and divisions during this crucial democratic moment in 
the workplace.

8. Reducing the Union Depression: The existence of union branches and a 
strong union presence hinders the expansion of the far right. Despite 
its efforts, the union movement is failing and lacks a presence in many 
sectors and companies. This is, in fact, one of the reasons for the 
Yellow Vest movement. What if we envisioned a unified unionization 
campaign, a joint effort to reach out to workers  ? This would send a 
powerful message to the world of work. Let's experiment with this in our 
local and departmental unions, and in sectors where cooperation is 
strong, to create and disseminate concrete examples of joint action, 
because where unionism advances, the far right retreats.

9. Adopt and develop the centrality of a protective ecology for workers, 
based on the social utility of modes of production and consumption: the 
climate and environmental crisis accelerates the urgency for major 
transformations and turning points. We must seize this opportunity more 
strongly within our unions to make it a lever for convergence and 
mobilization and to counter the fears, lies, and climate-killing 
policies fueled in particular by the far right, which, in a vicious 
cycle, feeds on them.

10. To present positive and unifying common demands with the social 
movement and civil society: the work of the coalition in 2024 was done 
in haste. It can be taken up and expanded upon, because beyond a 
defensive project, we need clear, strong, and unifying measures to 
permeate society and offer a future other than one of hatred of the far 
right, a future that incorporates an intersectional approach to forms of 
domination.

11. Establish an independent relationship with progressive political 
parties: it is possible to protect our autonomy from political parties 
while simultaneously forging a new, constructive, and critical dialogue, 
particularly with a progressive electoral alliance. If our measures are 
adopted by a political power, we can establish a post-election oversight 
committee to monitor their implementation and maintain our role as a 
counterweight.

12. Affirming our inter-organizational solidarity: the far right thrives 
on controversy and attacks against parts of our broader ecosystem to 
exacerbate our divisions and weaken us. How many associations, unions, 
and individuals have been attacked, sometimes physically ? Let us accept 
differences in positions and practices while defending those who are 
targeted. Pluralism is one of our strengths, and so is solidarity.

13. We must be able to initiate struggles and collectively utilize all 
available mobilization tools: because we will achieve nothing without 
mobilizing, and our victories must improve daily life and dispel fear 
and hatred. As an added bonus, the far right is particularly inaudible 
when we occupy the social sphere. From petitions to strikes, from union 
information meetings to public events, let's amplify our united 
visibility to achieve concrete victories that advance equality and 
workers' rights.

Unite and go back on the offensive
Let's not delay and let's rise to the occasion by facing up to what we 
are currently doing and what we could be doing. We won't be able to say 
"  we didn't know  " .

Trade unionism is a pragmatic approach to everyday life. But we all have 
a responsibility in our actions during this period. If we create 
division at a time of rising danger, we weaken our capacity to resist. 
And this resistance can manifest itself in many ways, at every level.

Whether through pacts, alliances, or coalitions, we have an urgent need 
to prevent the worst. We can make a difference and build a viable 
alternative. And if we counterattack together, we might even develop a 
taste for it and transform this urgency into strength to write a major 
new chapter in the history of unionism for the benefit of workers.

Simon Duteil

To validate

[1] Find the full article on 
https://blogs.mediapart.fr/simon-duteil/blog/110326/des-pistes-pour-agir-syndicalement-contre-lextreme-droite 
.

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?Point-de-vue-comment-agir-syndicalement-contre-l-extreme-droite
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