Born in Luzech (France) in 1949. Four children
Education
1972 Master’s degree in philosophy. University of Toulouse.
Professional experience
May 2011 Elected General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) at the Athens Congress.
2000 to 2010 Elected leader of UNI Europa in 2000. Re-elected in 2003 and 2007.
UNI Europa is the European trade union federation for services and communication. It is a lively and active European trade union federation, covering 13 different sectors and 3 cross-sectoral groups (women, youth, professional and managerial staff). UNI Europa represents 7 million workers and 330 affiliated trade unions. UNI Europa is a member of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC).
1985 - 2000 Euro-FIET (commerce, finance, IT and other services) in Brussels. Director
In 2000 UNI was created from FIET, CI (post and telecoms), MEI (media and entertainment) and IGF (graphical sector). Elected UNI-Europa Regional Secretary on that occasion.
Member of the ETUC Executive Committee and Steering Committee from 1985 to 2011.
1974 – 1985 International Textile Workers’ Federation Assistant to the General Secretary
Trade union experience
Contributed to the overhaul of the services directive (2003-2006), positively influenced the telecom and postal legislations;
Fought for temporary agency work legislation using our dialogue with employers as leverage for a better legal European Union framework;
Supported the creation of over 200 European Works Councils, and developed their capacity to service them;
Created 11 social dialogue platforms. Their operation involves regular discussions and/or negotiations with European employers’ organisations;
Actively involved in the process of re-regulation of the finance sector, fighting financial capitalism (private equity and hedge funds) in close coordination with ETUC;
Works with affiliates in Eastern and Central Europe and candidate countries to develop their strength at national level, facilitate their inclusion in European trade union work and promote trade union rights;
Fights for equal treatment in Europe.