Around 200 participants participated in the congress of Fédération Générale Force-Ouvrière Construction, FO, held in Marne-la-Vallée on 14-15 November 2018 in France. Frank Serra was re-elected as general secretary of the union. International guests participated in the event from Belgium, Italy, Switzerland as well as the BWI.
Frank Serra presented the activity report of the union in the past four years. For Serra: “The French government and employers have engaged in an offensive without precedence against the interests of workers from both the private and public sectors.” A one package resolution was therefore adopted by congress with a clear focus on unionization, the development of branch negociation, a general wage increase and an end to women discrimination. The union also refuses a powerful Europe removing the responsibility of political leaders in their economic, industrial and social decisions and impacting posted workers. Finally, the resolution also rejects systematic reforms on retirement and includes other issues like social protection, training and youth, health and safety, insecurity at work as well as sexual harassment and housing.
Various workshops were held respectively on training, social dialogue and health and security.