Let’s give back the place that is theirs to trade union organizations!

At a time when political democracy is going through a period of instability, intermediary bodies—and trade unions in particular have emerged as essential pillars of social cohesion. Joint governance between trade unions and employers’ organisations must be safeguarded against the State’s gradual encroachment, which is steadily undermining this long-standing model..

Trade unions: Pillars of social democracy

Although there is no single legal or sociological definition of intermediary bodies, the term generally encompasses a range of institutions, including trade unions, that share one common characteristic: they are organised groups positioned between individuals and the State, representing collective interests. By encouraging civic participation, they sustain social democracy at every level, helping to strike a balance between State authority and individual freedom.

The General Confederation of Labour Force Ouvrière (FO) is France’s third-largest nationally representative cross-sector trade union. It is composed of 104 departmental unions and 22 sectoral federations, all of which are present throughout metropolitan France and the overseas territories. The Confederation brings together free men and women within an independent organisation united in defending workers’ material and moral rights and interests, improving existing protections, and securing new ones. Trade unions such as Force Ouvrière possess recognised expertise in the world of work, its challenges and its realities, making a significant contribution to the Republic’s social cohesion.

At a time when hard-won social gains remain fragile, strong safeguards and clear red lines are more necessary than ever. These are reflected both in Force Ouvrière’s demands and in the responsibilities assigned to trade unions under Article L1 of the French Labour Code, which requires the Government to consult trade unions and engage in negotiations with them before introducing any labour or employment reform. The national interprofessional agreements concluded in recent years demonstrate that social dialogue provides the most appropriate framework for addressing the profound changes affecting the world of work and for developing practical solutions. The social partners have consistently anticipated and taken ownership of the issues that matter most to workers, including end-of-career management, the right to career transition, occupational health, profit-sharing, and adaptation to climate change.

At a time when political democracy is faltering, employers’ organisations and trade unions alike have become islands of stability. Each of our organisations is founded on robust democratic structures, with electoral and representative processes whose legitimacy is not called into question. Taken together, France’s trade unions have significantly more members than all the political parties represented in the National Assembly.

Joint governance: A historic model under increasing pressure

As a cornerstone of France’s system of social democracy, trade unions and employers’ organisations also bring to life the principle of joint governance

The term is generally attributed to André Bergeron, General Secretary of Force Ouvrière, at the time unemployment insurance was established in 1961. When Unédic was created, governance shared between trade unions and employers was taken for granted. The underlying principle was straightforward: responsibility should lie with those who directly experience and shape employment relations and the social rights attached to them, across fields as diverse as pensions, housing, unemployment insurance and vocational training. Although they often remain little known to the wider public, jointly managed institutions including Agirc-Arrco, Action Logement and Unédic meet essential social needs. This model guarantees fair and equal treatment for all workers, regardless of where they live, the company they work for or the sector in which they are employed. Ensuring that social rights remain uniform across the country is fundamental to the Republic’s social cohesion. Over time, however, joint governance has gradually ceased to be regarded as self-evident, as the State has increasingly sought to reassert control over institutions jointly managed by the social partners, often portraying them as opaque, costly or inefficient.

Tangible results that argue for its preservation

This trend has become particularly evident in recent years through repeated reforms of unemployment insurance and vocational training, the State’s repeated diversion of financial resources from Unédic and Action Logement, and attempts to draw on the reserves of complementary pension schemes. Today, the social policy landscape has become something of a minefield, with the State simultaneously seeking to weaken the institutions of joint governance while reclaiming powers that had long been entrusted to the social partners.

Far from being outdated or obsolete, joint governance remains a model of dialogue and management that deserves to be protected and strengthened.

In terms of governance, Agirc-Arrco’s consistently strong financial performance year after year clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of joint management and contractual negotiation. Another, less widely recognised example is the branch responsible for occupational accidents and diseases, which is also jointly managed by employers and trade unions. This branch fulfils three core missions prevention, oversight and contribution rate setting with a clear objective: reducing workplace accidents and improving working conditions. Until recently, its joint management generated annual budget surpluses. However, successive Social Security Financing Acts reduced employers’ contributions while redirecting the accumulated surpluses to finance other branches of the social security system. Yet the challenges remain considerable: improving compensation for victims, recognising emerging occupational risks such as psychosocial disorders and occupational cancers, and strengthening prevention policies.

Here, as throughout the broader social sphere, joint governance remains a model of dialogue and management that must be preserved and defended. Its relevance is beyond dispute. At a time when political democracy is struggling to function effectively, social democracy can and must continue to fulfil its essential role.