For its 130th anniversary, the CGT is focusing on young people and preparing its confederal congress

At the CGT , young people are in the spotlight. This Friday, June 13, 500 members under 35 gathered in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis) for a day dedicated to the confederation's 130th anniversary. "With Parcoursup and the difficulties young people face in entering the professional world, it is our future that is being sacrificed," stressed General Secretary Sophie Binet at a press conference.

For the occasion, the confederation commissioned a survey from Cluster 17 to identify the priorities of the younger generations with regard to trade unionism. Wage increases (26%), guaranteed free access to health and education (23%), as well as decent and affordable housing (23%), are the three priorities cited by the young people surveyed. "If we add the issues of access to affordable energy prices (12%) and quality food (16%), the emerging theme is that of precariousness," underlines Nawel Benchlikha, of the confederal executive committee.

While 44% of respondents say they have a good image of the CGT (4 points more than employees overall), 95% of them say they do not belong to a union. "In France, unionism is exercised by proxy. However, the survey shows a pool of potential unionization. This is one of the objectives of our ^54th congress, which we are placing under the aegis of youth," assures Sophie Binet. The latter will be held in Tours from June ¹ to 5, 2026.

An encouraging sign: among the 70,000 new memberships since the 2023 movement against retirement at 64 , "the proportion of those under 35, managers and technicians is rising sharply," insists confederal secretary Catherine Giraud, who warns: "These memberships are based on values ​​shared with our union during the social movement against pension reform and the consequences of the dissolution of the Assembly. But if the CGT structures want to have a chance of keeping them, we must offer these new arrivals training from their first year of membership." The outgoing confederal leadership hopes to present a guidance text, put up for debate in the structures and unions, in February 2026.

In the meantime, and alongside the social struggles, the CGT will be working to celebrate its 130th anniversary. For the occasion, the confederation is releasing an album of militant songs, La lutte est belle!, featuring several artists, including Gauvain Sers, Cali, Mouss and Hakim. In its headquarters in Montreuil, the CGT has erected 37 portraits that are little known to the general public. These include Olivier Leberquier , a figure of the 1336, Marius Patinaud, a resistance fighter and Undersecretary of State for Labour under Ambroise Croizat , and Nathalie Argenson , leader of the blockade of the Nîmes University Hospital in 2018. "Traditionally, important figures are highlighted. For our 130th anniversary, we wanted to do the opposite and highlight everyday trade unionists, who are fighting hard for social progress," notes Gilbert Garrel, of the Institute of Social History (ISH). Above all, on September 23, the CGT will hold a meeting in Limoges (Vienne), where its founding congress took place in 1895, which will be accompanied by a visit to the martyred town of Oradour-sur-Glane .