"Everything is on the table": Cyril Chabanier (CFTC) not opposed to an inter-union mobilization in September

Communication at a standstill? A few days after François Bayrou's shocking proposals for the 2026 budget, the government wants to ensure that the unions are on the same page before beginning parliamentary discussions in the fall.

This is why Labor Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet has proposed a meeting with the unions this Monday, July 21. The idea is to gather the opinions of the social partners before sending them the roadmap needed to frame the three upcoming negotiations in the fall: the elimination of two public holidays, unemployment insurance, and the labor market.

But the invitation was accepted, according to our information, only by the CFDT and CFTC, unaccustomed to the empty chair policy. The other three unions (CGT, Force Ouvrière, and CFE-CGC) were nowhere to be seen this Monday morning at Rue de Grenelle and have postponed their meeting. The reason: the Prime Minister's statements made last Tuesday, July 15, which clearly displeased the unions.

The elimination of two public holidays, as well as the monetization of the fifth week of paid leave, a more flexible labor market, a reduction in the number of civil servants, and a further tightening of unemployment insurance. The budget announcements sparked the ire of workers' representatives. On the contrary, employers applauded. The CPME and the MEDEF (Medef) met last Friday with Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet.

"These announcements are a full-scale attack on employees. We can no longer talk to them, because they're going to turn us inside out anyway," a senior union official told RMC.

The minister's entourage explained to the social partners that the negotiations cover many other issues besides public holidays and the fifth week of paid leave, such as the fight against workplace accidents and employee representation on boards of directors.

This is not the case. Three of the five main unions are missing from the meeting this Monday morning, but the door does not appear to be closed. FO has indicated that it is postponing its meeting with the Minister of Labor until the end of August. The leader of the CFE-CGC also indicated that she only wants to be present at the start of the school year. The leader of the CGT, Sophie Binet , has also declined.

"At some point, if there's nothing to negotiate or if things keep getting worse, let the state take responsibility and take back control. And if this budget doesn't change, everything is on the table, including an inter-union mobilization in September," Cyril Chabanier, president of the CFTC, told us.

The unions are planning to meet again on September 1st. And while Cyril Chabanier is a little more cautious, some, like the CGT (General Confederation of Trade Unions), are already pushing hard to mobilize on the streets during the budget debates in Parliament.