CFDT Launches Experiment to Promote Young Members

Paris – 23.06.2026: The CFDT, France’s largest trade union, opened its 51st Congress on June 22, 2026, in Bordeaux. As part of this congress, the union launched an experiment to promote the integration of young members into its leadership bodies. The goal is to facilitate generational succession within the organization and to more strongly incorporate the perspectives of younger members into decision-making processes.

According to the most recent available data, the CFDT had a total of 640,631 members in 2024, including over 52,000 under the age of 35. This corresponds to about 8% of the total membership. This number highlights the union’s efforts to attract young people to its work and represent their interests.

To further increase its appeal to young members, the CFDT has implemented various initiatives. These include the introduction of a “discovery membership,” which allows young people to experience the union for a certain period without paying dues. Special informational materials tailored to the needs and interests of the younger generation have also been developed.

Another example of the CFDT’s commitment to youth promotion is the founding of the “Groupe Jeune’s” within the Fédération Chimie Énergie CFDT. This body aims to structure, energize, and project the engagement of young members into the future. It provides a platform for exchange and the development of initiatives specifically geared to the needs and challenges of young workers.

The CFDT emphasizes the importance of involving young members in its decision-making processes. By creating spaces for exchange and active participation, the perspectives of younger generations are to be taken into greater account and integrated into the strategic orientation of the union.

These measures reflect the CFDT’s effort to present a modern and inclusive image and to effectively represent the interests of all members, regardless of their age. By promoting intergenerational dialogue and actively involving young members in leadership bodies, the union aims to remain future-proof and meet the challenges of tomorrow’s working world.

The results of this experiment are eagerly anticipated, as they could provide insight into how effective such initiatives can be in promoting generational change within unions. The CFDT plans to continuously evaluate the impacts of these measures and make adjustments if necessary to further improve the integration of young members.

Overall, through these steps, the CFDT demonstrates a strong commitment to the future of the trade union movement and the active involvement of younger generations in shaping the working world.