EUROPEAN union federations have called for affiliates to support French trade unionists who are being prosecuted for taking collective action during recent pension protests.

IndustriALL, which represents manufacturing and energy unions, and the European Public Services federation made the call on Friday after mining and energy union FNME-CGT general secretary Renaud Henri, the general secretary of CGT’s energy workers in Marseilles, and several other activists were told to appear in court in September. 

The targeting of union leaders and activists comes in the aftermath of mass industrial action taken to oppose government attacks on pension rights and the closure of pension funds for electricity and gas workers in France. 

IndustriALL Europe and EPSU say this is a direct attack on fundamental trade union freedoms and the right to strike – and marks the first time senior union leaders have faced public safety charges for engaging in trade union activism.

Christophe Garcia, the leader of CGT energy workers in the Gironde region, is also set to appear in court during November in Bordeaux.

FNME-CGT is planning a demonstration at the Montmorency police station on September 6 while IndustriALL Europe and EPSU will stage solidarity protests outside the French embassy in Brussels.