Fighting Back PSI Unions Join Forces at CGT Conference to Counter Far-Right Threats
PSI General Secretary Daniel Bertossa met with union leaders from France's CGT, Spain's CC.OO., Italy's CGIL, Finland's JHL, Netherlands' FNV, and USA's SEIU. The conference reinforces PSI's Public Service Fightback, a global initiative launched in response to escalating attacks on public services by billionaire oligarchs, corporate power, austerity, and far-right authoritarianism.
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Public service unions across Europe and beyond are strengthening their collective response to the growing threat of far-right movements targeting workers, public services and democratic institutions.
Hosted by the Fédération CGT de la Santé et de l’Action Sociale at CGT headquarters, the event -"Public Services and Trade Union Action in Europe and Internationally: A Bulwark Against the Far Right" - gathered over 80-100 union leaders from CGT federations and beyond.
The conference strengthens PSI's Public Service Fightback, a global initiative launched in response to escalating attacks on public services by billionaire oligarchs, corporate power, austerity, and far-right authoritarianism.
Discussions focused on the dangers of far-right and extreme-right forces across Europe and globally, their attacks on health and social care sectors, and the vital role of trade unions and public services in building resistance.
The conference opened with remarks from Barbara Filhol, General Secretary of the CGT Health and Social Action Federation, and Françoise Geng, President of the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU). A moderated international roundtable, led by journalist Delphine Bauer, featured Bertossa alongside prominent leaders - all from PSI affiliates:
Humberto Muñoz Beltran, General Secretary, CC.OO. Health Federation (Spain)
Federico Bozzanca, General Secretary of Public Services of CGIL (Italy)
Giordana Pallone, National Secretary of Public Services of CGIL (Italy)
Mari Keturi, Chief Executive Officer, JHL (Finland)
Eric Vermeulen, Director, FNV (Netherlands)
José Simões, SEIU (USA)
Participants exchanged national experiences, covering far-right impacts on public services, union strategies to counter harmful policies, successful mobilizations, and effective ways to communicate with members.
Bertossa stressed the importance of coordinated global solidarity and the role of unions in responding to growing public frustration. “We must recognise the anger people feel and channel this legitimate anger toward real change through collective action,” he said. “If we don’t, the far right will.”
The event also reinforced CGT's efforts to build a counter-offensive, including reflections on past attacks like the 2021 assault on CGIL headquarters in Italy.
