Thierry Lepaon close to the exit door to the CGT – BBC

Thierry Lepaon close to the exit door to the CGT – BBC

The noose is tightening around the number one trade union center. Louis Weiya, General Secretary from 1992 to 1999 plant, also calls for his resignation.

The moment of truth for Thierry Lepaon, weakened after revelations about his severance pay of Normandy in 2013 and work in his apartment and his office. Tuesday and Wednesday held a meeting of the Executive Board (EB), the extended leadership of the CGT. This body of 56 members can not revoke it: only the national confederal committee (NCC), the parliament of the plant, which next sitting was fixed on January 13, has the power. The EC, which will set the agenda of CNN, will measure the balance of power. “Now the balance has significantly switch to the disadvantage of Thierry Lepaon, with statements of Louis Weiya, the former general secretary of the CGT from 1992 to 1999, which remains very influential internally,” concedes an expert on social issues. It is therefore possible that Thierry Lepaon be forced to offer his resignation … as soon Tuesday.

The burden Louis Weiya is relentless effect. “The Secretary-General would grow (…) by publicly announcing its decision to submit his resignation to the SCC,” said he said in an interview with Le Monde dated Tuesday. Louis Weiya, which calls in diplomatic language Thierry Lepaon to resign, also belies the conspiracy theory, so often used internally to defend themselves. “Certainly leaks have indeed existed, media pressure also. But if no fault had not occurred, there would be today no leakage or media campaign, “he insists. And the former number one to emphasize how the crisis is serious, because “it casts doubt on the sincerity with which the CGT fiercely defends its fundamental values.”

With this new speech, Thierry Lepaon finds himself actually dropped by his three predecessors still alive. Certainly Bernard Thibault (1999-2013) and Georges Seguy (1967-1982) did not request his resignation, but they showed him no public support.

Most importantly, Thierry Lepaon has lost all credibility its base. “It did not measure how these cases have angered the militants, said a close union circles. Today, the climate is deleterious. At least one local union thought to manifest against him in the siege of Montreuil, other activists send greeting letters in which they ask him to release. ” Therefore difficult for the 129 leaders of departmental federations and unions who sit on CNN to ignore this fact. And for the EC to cut the base. Moreover, some very important federations, such as public services, the first of the confederation, have called for the resignation of the Secretary General.

Although Thierry Lepaon has demonstrated its ability to maneuver and resist – he hoped before Christmas the resignation of the entire office except him – his fate seems sealed. But even with a new secretary general, CGT will not be out of the crisis, the basic problem is that of strategic direction. To get out of the rut, the idea would be that rises to set up a constricted college of from 4 to 5 members around a new number one. With the mission for the college to prepare the roadmap for Congress in 2016.