By 2015 nearly 200000 active members 580

It was the month of April in Lille, at the Congress of the CGT. Bruno Julliard, Chairman of the Unef, was invited by Bernard Thibault, a standing ovation by militants energized by their recent victory against the CPE. This mobilization has not only restored colours to trade unionism sounded by the failure of 2003 on the pension reform. She has also devoted reunion with a youth that it both default. "Combining our forces, we can raise mountains," said then Bruno Julliard before an enthusiastic. "Humanity" day, last month, the leader of the Student Union is again alongside the Secretary General. Both attend a debate on unionization and young people. But six months after the crisis, the fervor is well settled. During the battle, memberships have multiplied much, but this momentum was very short. "The anti-CPE movement has not changed the equation of unionization, admits Bernard Thibault, we have not had a significant and sustainable membership influx.

Same bitter observation in other unions, who also hoped to reap the fruits of this engagement. The conquest of young members became capital. And for good reason. All unions is facing major demographic challenge: cushion the brutal impact of the Granddad boom. By 2015, nearly 200,000 active members 580.000 of the CGT will retire. The CFDT is expected out of 250,000 people from a displayed number of acceding 758.000 active. "The generations come to unionism in the 1970s are the most numerous," said Annick Coupe of the solidarity trade union. Quadras and quinquas form the bulk of the battalions: 58.5 of the members of the CGT belong to the range 40-60 years and 48.6 to the CFDT. In contrast, less than 30 years are just 6.5 of the workforce of the CGT and the CFDT 4. There is urgency to reverse the trend.

"A missing generation".

But the site looks and more difficult. Between labour and unionism, the divorce lasts for more than twenty years. Early large industrial restructuring operations, the modification of the forms of employment, break in the hopes of political change, mistrust to the politicization of trade unions... decades 80 and 90 mark a break. Membership declined. The natural renewal of the membership is more guaranteed. "There is a generation missing, said Jacky Bontemps, Deputy Secretary General of the CFDT.". More importantly, the arrival of new members did not materialize by a rejuvenation. The Organization continues to age. "The concern grew even more in SMEs where these departures may sometimes result in a pure disappearance of trade union presence. "We know that in some areas, sections will close the door with the release of the last militant, said Philippe Jaeger, Secretary General of the CFE - CGC chemistry. And when it loses a company, it is always very difficult to return.

Large power plants including the interest of specific actions in the direction of the new generations. Example, FO, which has long been restive to consider employees by sex or age, just launch within a young network. "It must be take into account the difficulties associated with age as access to housing-related youth assets today," said René Valladon, Confederal Secretary.

A speech "without complex."

It is the CFDT which can avail itself of the experience in the field. As early as the 1980s, the Confederation creates Turbulence, a youth movement, not as an internal tool, but as an airlock transition towards trade unionism. But apart from some activists such as Lawrence Berger, today at the head of the regional Union of the Pays de Loire, this attempt has not provided the much expected new blood. In 2000, a young collective is set up with any other strategy. This is the launch of the campaign on the rights of seasonal workers that produced dynamics, but still not membership. "We are adopting today a direct approach, specific Grégory Martin, Confederal Secretary, do you want to be helped" It must adhere. This is the speech without complex that we must take. Young people expect all to be considered as adults and it starts with a few good results. "At the same time, the CFDT intervenes to its militants to help exceed representations of youth which may constitute a disincentive to unionization. "Militants are reluctant to invest in a relationship with these generations taxed individualism or instability," says Grégory Martin. Aware of the importance of establishing links as soon as possible, the CFDT intervenes regularly in professional schools, the university institutes of training

Masters (UIFM), or with the apprentices with the same attention to pragmatism. Is no tedious speech on the Organization, but a practical discourse on trade, labour and the services provided by the trade unions. The academic world is not forgotten. Reformist Central provides support to the student Confederation, founded in 2003 by 16 associations, with which a partnership has been passed.

After the anti-CPE movement, the CGT has strengthened ties with the Unef. The two organizations are preparing to launch joint legal hotlines in schools for employed students. "Much work to finance their studies and have need of Council for the defence of their rights," said François Thiery-Cherrier, Secretary General of the Puy-de Dôme. But these efforts will be fully productive without a structural adjustment of the organizations. Diversification of the statutes, proliferation of atypical contracts and break-up of collectives... The trajectories of youth are marked by precariousness, while unions are built in reference to a stable job and a dominant status. "We are present in traditional bastions or large corporations, who do not hire or little, but not where are the young, particularly in services, trade or SMEs, deplores Gérard Billion, responsible for unionization in the CGT." 43 of employees working in enterprises of fewer than 50 people, while we expect that 7 of members in this category. "New forms of collective action emerged outside the traditional frameworks. No organization saw thus come the protest of the students who was born of a call to strike posted on the Internet. "By launching our movement, we have not sought the assistance of trade unions as they appear attached to different questions of ours", considers Julien one of the animators of precarious generation.

The loss of expertise

At the feast of "Humanity", Bernard Thibault pleaded for a transformation of unionism: "It lift prevention on the confusion between Trade Union and political party, develop internal democracy, and especially agree to make room for young people entrusting them with responsibilities." If staff members accumulate years, the issue of the ageing of the Union executives is even more worrying. Makers of 92 departmental unions of the CGT, for example, and those of 33 professional federations, only two are less than 35 years of age. In 751 delegates participating in the last Congress of the CFDT, only 11 of them had less than 30 years, or 1.5 of the total. "This lack of young people among officials is catastrophic, says Grégory Martin, Confederal Secretary." Without preparation of the estate, is the know-how and expertise that will disappear.

The risk of loss, the CFDT welfare Federation opted for a radical method (see opposite). The FGMM, the Union of metallurgy, implemented the accelerated route of taking responsibility. "And for our next Conference, we granted to each Union the possibility to come with a person, but provided that this delegate does not exceed the age of thirty", explains Dominique Gillier, the Secretary General. But the resistance of the oldest are still strong. "Activists who are dedicated for more than twenty years do not understand why they should make room for young people without experience", says François Thiery-Cherrier, CGT head. "A whole class of age is not a release the reins of power", says another leader.

Necessary contacts

This announced shortage concerns not only the trade unions, some directions are afraid to have Union interlocutors. "Face a risk of partial desertion many representative institutions of the personnel, EDF encourages its employees to turn to the Union way, as one professional sector like any other," explains Dominique Andolfatto, researcher at the University of Nancy. The direction of the post was launched in June a rather novel study: ensure that unions work the question of the renewal of their activists. This survey also met with a keen interest in the ranks of federal officials. "About 100,000 postal workers will leave in the next 15 years, and a company where social dialogue is an important, we question on the permanence of the Union teams, explains André Cassou, responsible for the social Observatory of the position." We are in a phase of reorganization of our professions. We need people with experience of social dialogue. "If the SGC retains the position first place, South did continued to gain ground. The Granddad boom could also have as a consequence of reshuffle the cards. Reason for directions of focus.