Four years later, our Executive Director, Christopher Mung returned to France to attend the 51st Congress of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) in Bordeaux. Amidst a bustling crowd of nearly 3,000 union delegates and 50+ international guests, the atmosphere was electric.
While Bordeaux is famous for its fine wine, it is also a city built on a fierce, century-old tradition of labour resistance. And at this year’s Congress, that spirit of resistance was directed toward international solidarity.
The Empty Chair
For many French trade unionists, “Hong Kong” and Lee Cheuk-yan (Ah Yan) are unforgettable names. In 2018, Lee attended the CFDT Congress in person, sharing the sweat and tears of Hong Kong workers fighting for democracy. CFDT has remained a steadfast ally of Hong Kong’s independent labour movement, standing by workers even after the forced disbandment of the HKCTU.
This year, a powerful and silent statement stood out in the main hall: an empty chair.
The CFDT reserved this prominent seat specifically for Lee Cheuk-yan, who has now been imprisoned for over five years. Through this gesture, French comrades sent a clear message to the world:
“We have not forgotten. No matter how high the prison walls, we stand with Lee Cheuk-yan.”
Mung expressed his deepest gratitude to CFDT General Secretary Marylise, sharing the collective hope that Lee will soon be released and able to fill that chair in person one day.
The Fight Ahead: Confronting the Far-Right
Beyond international solidarity, the Congress faced pressing domestic challenges. As the far-right rises across Europe and France, threatening hard-won labour rights, the CFDT made it clear that they are ready to fight back. The high morale and passion of the delegates showed a labour movement fully mobilised to defend democracy and workers’ protections.