Solidarity action with persecuted French trade union leaders

On September 6, together with our colleagues from the Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation, we joined the solidarity action with French trade union leaders and activists, at premises of the Embassy of France in Vilnius.

Rrecently in France, unprecedented accusations against trade union activists have been taken: after mass protests against the French government’s pension reform, the leaders of the country’s largest trade union center FNME-CGT, which unites energy workers and miners, were arrested and charged, including the general secretary, Sébastien Menesplier.

The European Public Service Union (EPSU) notes that such actions by the French authorities are a direct attack on the fundamental freedoms of trade unions and the right to strike.

The same day colleagues from all over Europe were gathering in Paris and in Brussels in a joint protest action of EPSU, the European Industrial Trade Union (IndustriALLEurope) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in order to show solidarity with the French trade unionists who have to stand before the court.

Representatives of human rights defenders, environmental protection organizations, NGOs and others joined the action.