Trade Unions in France and in Germany: Difficult Adaptations to the Social Evolutions
' Fall of manpower, structural changes of the working population insufficiently taken into account, threats on the social rights (…), crumbling of the representativeness (…) ', such are some of the many challenges which the French and German trade unions must face, whereas the rate of unionisation is with lowest. After comparing the fall of unionisation in France and in Germany,
Brigitte Lestrade gives the socioeconomic and cultural reasons for this evolution. Then, she exposes the various priority reforms of the French and German trade unions having difficulties to adapt the changes of the society.
Brigitte Lestrade is professor of German civilization at the university of Cergy-Pontoise, director of the UFR of Languages and director of Master 1 Comparative Comtempory Civilizations.
This content is published in French - Les syndicats en France et en Allemagne : Difficules adaptations aux mutations de la société
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The Study Committee on Franco-German Relations (Cerfa) was created in 1954 by an inter-governmental agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and France, in order to raise awareness of Germany in France and analyze Franco-German relations, including in their European and international dimensions. In its conferences and seminars, which bring together experts, political leaders, senior decision-makers and representatives of civil society from both countries, Cerfa develops the Franco-German debate and stimulates political proposals. It regularly publishes studies through two collections: Cerfa notes and studies as well as Franco-German visions.
Cerfa maintains close relations with the network of German foundations and think tanks. In addition to its research and debate activities, Cerfa promotes the emergence of a new Franco-German generation through original cooperation programs. This is how in 2021-2022, Cerfa led a program on multilateralism with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Paris. This program is aimed at young professionals from both countries interested in the issues of multilateralism in the context of their activities. It covered a wide range of themes relating to multilateralism, such as international trade, health, human rights and migration, non-proliferation and disarmament. Previously, Cerfa had participated in the Franco-German future dialogue, co-led with the DGAP from 2007 to 2020, and supported by the Robert Bosch Foundation and the Daniel Vernet group (formerly the Franco-German Reflection Group) which was founded in 2014 upon the initiative of the Genshagen Foundation.
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