A-Infos (en) France, Alternative Libertaire #223 - Student unions: towards the unification of fighting unions (fr) [machine translation]

On 29 and 30 September last the Fédération syndicale étudiante (FSE - Student Union 
Federation) and SUD-Étudiant (SUD-Student) held a congress where they confirmed their 
merger, leading to the creation of a new organization in January. ---- After more than six 
years of discussions between the student union FSE and SUD-Étudiant, the unification of 
fighting student unions is on its way. A merger congress was held in St. Denis in 
September and a new organization resulting from the merger saw the light of day with a new 
Congress in January 2013. This meeting was an opportunity for militants from the two 
federations to outline the bases of the new union and to reaffirm their principles. Mixed 
SUD-FSE branches already exist in some universities.

Five years after the LRU (the 2007 law on "the freedoms and responsabilities of 
universities), this merger comes at a time when Public Universities are in poor condition. 
Half the institutions are experiencing cuts in their budgets. Twenty universities are 
facing unprecedented deficits, resulting in major spending cuts and their management being 
put under the supervision. All are subject to profitability objectives and the interests 
of private investors.

The failure of employer-led universities

As a result, courses are being revised to meet the needs of employers and the sectors 
deemed unnecessary are being gradually abandoned. Students from more modest backgrounds, 
who often work while they study, are more severely affected by these financial 
difficulties. In late November the Socialist government held a parody of a consultation 
called the Upper Education and Research Assizes, which led to a new framework law in late 
March. Everything suggests that it will continue the work of destroying public education 
and research.

Getting out of the rut

In this difficult context, it became urgent for the forces of fighting syndicalism to join 
together. Both the FSE and SUD-Étudiant were created as an alternative to the 
pro-partnership, bureaucratic trade unionism of the bureaucratic Union Nationale des 
Étudiants de France (UNEF - National Union of Students of France). They draw their source 
from the self-organized struggles of students. The UNEF, which is very close to the 
Socialist Party, has already called for a mobilization... for university elections, 
confirming that its closeness to the new Government will be taken into account in the 
construction of the struggles to come.

After the failure of several movements against the LRU but also against the pension 
reforms, the social climate is gloomy. The FSE and SUD-Étudiant, who won their legitimacy 
during the mobilizations, are facing a decline in their audience. The unification of these 
fighting trade unions will have to allow them to respond to the challenges of the period. 
This means rebuilding a new labour tool which is visibile and accessible to as many as 
possible in the struggles of today and tomorrow, and able to diversify its implementation 
(Institutes for Technology, Regional social work institutes, etc.) and to gain greater 
support for fighting unionism.

It must create concrete bonds of solidarity between students. And lastly, at a time when 
students, workers and the unemployed are under a coordinated attack by the employers and 
the government, it is crucial that the student unionism works daily on an 
inter-professional level. This is why the new organization will join Solidaires.
Rémi (AL Paris-Sud) & Aurelien (AL Paris Nord-Est)

Translation by FdCA - International Relations Office

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