In France, more than one hundred workers—including trade unionists at national and local levels—issued a joint statement calling for stronger solidarity with Rojava. The appeal on the anniversary of Kobanê’s liberation from ISIS by Kurdish forces on January 26, 2015 emphasized that Rojava and Kobanê are once again under serious threat.
The statement noted that since January 6, the Syrian government and its affiliated “fascist-Islamist militias” have intensified their attacks on large parts of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, particularly on Kurdish neighborhoods. Recalling that Kobanê was a symbol of resistance against Islamist fascism in 2015, it stated that “today it is once again under threat from militias affiliated with the Syrian administration, with the support of Turkey and the silence of Western powers.”
The trade unionists drew attention to the social model built in Rojava, which embodies values such as social emancipation, people’s self-organization, and the women’s revolution, stressing that defending these gains is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the labor movement. The statement underlined that international solidarity is an inseparable part of trade union struggle and called for the stance of the French government to be openly condemned.
The statement called on trade unions at all levels—from local branches to confederations—to take a clear stance in solidarity with Rojava, to raise their voices against the attacks, and to inform the public. It also reiterated the call for active participation in actions and protests organized by Kurdish institutions and internationalist organizations across France.
Finally, the trade unionists stated: “In 2015, the international mobilization in solidarity with the Kurdish YPG–YPJ forces succeeded in shifting the balance of power and contributing to victory against Islamist fascism. Eleven years later, Kobanê and the revolution are once again under threat, and in the face of this challenge, we must collectively build the response of the labor movement!”
Signatories:
- Cybèle David, teacher, SUD Éducation
- Guillaume Goutte, proofreader, SGLCE-CGT
- Basile Ackermann, primary school teacher, CGT 93, Seine-Saint-Denis
- Manon Amirshahi, parliamentary advisor, CGT-CP, Paris
- Annabel Cattoni, teacher, FSU Snuipp, Nantes
- Corinne Rohrbacher, engineer, CGT Air Liquide, Sassenage
- José Luis Torres, production worker, SUD PTT, Montpellier
- Samy Tabti, lathe operator, CGT Metal, Saint-Étienne
- Martin Vidal, train driver, CGT Railway Workers, Grenoble
- Romain, beekeeper and sheep breeder, Farmers’ Confederation of Landes 40
- Mathilde Millat, parliamentary advisor, CGT-CP, Paris
- Xavier Grall, engineer, CGT FAPT 35, Rennes
- Romain Casta, teacher, SUD Éducation 59, Lille
- Olivier Cava, seafarer, CGT FOMM, Port-de-Bouc
- Léonie-Cléïa Rio, administrative staff, SUD Éducation 59, Lille
- Alexis G., engineer, Intercompany CGT of Grenoble and surroundings
- Pierre, roofer, Autonomous Construction (BTP) Collective, Marseille
- Benjamin Durieux, audiovisual technician, SUD-UBO, Brest
- Elodie, event/workshop facilitator, SDAS FO 35
- Aelix B., student, Solidaires Étudiant·e·s, Lille
- Thibaut, public sector worker, CGT SNPTAS 42, Saint-Étienne
- Adrien Carfantan, printing worker, CGT, Rennes
- Astrid N., prevention services coordinator, CGT Local Authorities, Bobigny
- Awen, archaeologist, Solidaires Étudiant·e·s, Toulouse
- Maël, technician, CGT Metal (individual member), Grenoble
- Hugo Poupelin, teacher, CGT Educ’Action 95, Argenteuil
- Simon, order picker, CGT FAPT 35
- Yann R., teacher, SUD Éducation
- Mathys, student, Solidaires Étudiant·e·s, Tours
- Julien, local authority worker, CGT Local Authorities, Seyssinet-Pariset
- Clément V., teacher, SUD Éducation
- Fabienne, teacher, SUD Éducation 35, Rennes
- Nathan R., social worker, CGT Social Services
- Willy, educational support staff, SUD Éducation 35, Rennes
- Agathe, farmer, Farmers’ Confederation 30
- Tanguy, local authority worker, CGT SARCI, Isère
- Malika Nina Kandoussi Lenestour, community health supporter and health mediator, SUD Health and Social Services, Saint-Denis
- Dominique Burlot, retired teacher, SUD Éducation
- Camille, researcher, Solidaires Étudiant·e·s, Rennes
- Lorys Bonfils, teacher, CGT Educ’Action 95, Val-d’Oise
- Lenaic Pierson, multi-skilled worker, CGT Committee of the Unemployed and Precarious Workers UD 35, Rennes
- Rachel Beck, student, FSE, Rennes
- Ronan Jeanne, network administrator, CGT Unemployed and Precarious Workers, Lorient
- Sébastien Dhellemmes, student, FSE, Rennes
- Anaïs Collet-Beillon, perfumery consultant, CGT Commerce, Grenoble
- Charles Fache, PhD student, CentraleSupélec Engineers’ Demands Collective, Rennes
- Jules Becquemont, student – work-study trainee, CRI – Engineers’ Demands Collective, Gif-sur-Yvette
- Onae Laks, librarian, CGT, Gennevilliers
- Guillaume M., CGT Educ’Action, Sarthe
- Laurent Bignon, postal worker, CGT FAPT, Rennes
- Bernard B.B., retired metalworker, CGT, Gennevilliers
- Carla, student, FSE, Rennes
- Cybill, public sector worker, CGT SNPTAS 42, Saint-Étienne
- Stéphanie Michel, customer service representative, CGT, Rennes
- Nicolas Moulin, nurse, CGT University Hospital (CHU) 42, Saint-Étienne
- Louis Marteau, student, Solidaires Étudiant·e·s, Rennes
- Ronan Pelletier, student, CRI, Rennes
- Marine, teacher, SUD Éducation 36–37
- Juliette Touzeau, unemployed, CGT, Saint-Étienne
- Guillem Bonafos, researcher, CGT, Saint-Étienne
- Zoé, administrative staff, SUD Éducation 75
- Frédéric Poupelin, site/project manager, CFDT-F3C, Nantes
- Kireg, association worker, CGT Popular Education 35, Rennes
- Vincent Jolivet, teacher, CGT Educ’Action 94, Vitry-sur-Seine
- Emilie Olivier, teacher, CGT Educ’Action 94, Choisy-le-Roi
- Alice Richard, teacher, SUD Éducation 13, Marseille
- Jean-Marc Goubier, retiree, CGT, Saint-Étienne
- Héléna Jourden, teacher, SUD Éducation, Brest
- Maryse, postal worker, SUD PTT, Brest
- Reggie, IT specialist, CGT Capgemini, Rennes
- Anna, public sector worker, CGT SNPTAS 42, Saint-Étienne
- Malo LB, bartender, CGT Commerce, Rennes
- Albine Belinger, teacher, SUNDEP Solidaires, Brest
- Jean-Claude Planchin, retiree, SUD PTT 37, Tours
- Elsa Boullic, teacher, Solidaires, Marseille
- Dominique Blivet, agricultural high school teacher, Sud Rural Territoires, Morlaix
- Alain Girod, engineer, CGT Energy 42, Saint-Étienne
- Anso, primary school teacher, SUD Éducation
- Roman Herbette, teacher, SUD Éducation, Marseille
- Henri Le Gal, teacher, SUD Éducation, Rennes
- Sonia Breuza, teacher, SUD Éducation 13, Marseille
- Angèle B., administrator, SUD Éducation 35, Rennes
- Sarah Aït-Ouaret, student, FSE, Rennes
- Charlotte Ayache, primary school teacher, SUD Éducation 13, Marseille
- Pauline, psychologist, CGT Health and Social Services, Brest
- Riza, history–geography teacher, CGT Educ’Action 95, Garges-lès-Gonesse
- Nicole Cava, retiree, CGT, Port-de-Bouc
- Thierry Lefranc, job seeker, CGT, Rennes
- Thibaut, teacher, SNES-FSU, Paris
- Francis Rodriguez, teacher, FSU-Snuipp 91, Essonne
- Pierre-Guillaume Prigent, sociology lecturer, SUD Éducation UBO, Brest
- Julie Bernat, teacher, FSU 12, Rodez
- Corinne Lamballais, postal worker, CGT, Rennes
- Philippe Thomas, nurse, SUD, Rennes
- Capucine Agard, teacher, SUD Éducation 13, Salon-de-Provence
- Marine Garnier, teacher, SUD Éducation 13, Marseille
- Edouard L.B., social worker, CGT Popular Education 35, Rennes
- Maxime Béthuel, postal worker, CGT FAPT, Rennes
- Manuel Jacquin, local authority worker, CGT, Sarthe
- Salomé Gonzalez, educational support staff (AED), SUD Éducation, Marseille
- Michel Piel, retiree, CGT, Saint-Pern
- Alexis Brégeon, teacher, CGT 93, Seine-Saint-Denis
- Jacques Tallec, educator, SDAS FO 35, Rennes
- Martial Chateau, retired teacher, FSU, La Flèche (72)
- Nicolas Kieffer, educational support staff, CGT Educ’Action 42, Saint-Étienne
- Tom Chartier, educational support staff (AED), SUD Éducation, Rennes
- Pierre Shut, extracurricular activities instructor, CGT Educ Pop’ 38, Grenoble
- Frédéric Tremblay, worker, CGT Metal, Saint-Étienne
- F. Sauvourel, PhD student, CGT Grenoble University, Grenoble
- Christian Delarue, retiree, CGT Finance Retirees, Rennes
- Zakaria, PhD student, CGT FERC, Grenoble
- Aurélie Coum, teacher, CGT-EP, Brest
- Marie-Claire Cailletaud, CGT, Bagneux
- Ludovic, teacher, CGT Private Education, Grenoble
- Charlotte Cléro, teacher, CGT-EP, Grenoble
- Pierre Thorigne, retiree, CGT, Rennes
- Sarah Reckel, special education instructor, CGT Health, Grenoble
- Quentin Cohuau, teacher, SUD Éducation 13, Arles
- D. Rousselin, retired farmer, Miniac-sous-Bécherel
- Chloé Lebas, PhD in political science, temporary teaching and research assistant, SUD Éducation, Lille
- François Chambat, student, OSE CGT, Saint-Étienne
- Nedjma Bendiab, faculty member, CGT Grenoble University, Grenoble
- Florent Billy, teacher, CGT Educ’Action 95, Val-d’Oise
- Fanny Monbeig, teacher, SUD Éducation
- Sophie Noël, SUD Éducation 07
- Joëlle Levoyer, retired national education worker, Courbevoie
- Philippe Le Floc’h, retiree, CGT Metallurgy, Brest