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Following January's deadly attacks in Paris that targeted satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, the police and a Kosher supermarket Paris, French trade unions have entered a new partnership to strengthen societal values.

On 5 June, the French trade unions CGT, CFDT, CFTC, CFE-CGC, UNSA and FSU (to which most French Education International affiliates belong) and Solidaires published a joint text on a number of shared commitments entitled:“ After 11 January 2015: Living together, working together.”

A common grounding for trade union values and practices

The unions emphasised the need to take action against racism, antisemitism, discrimination, fundamentalism and all forms of totalitarianism: "The highly diverse trade union movement is an essential component of any democratic society. It identifies with the fundamental values of equality, fraternity, solidarity, respect of human rights and freedom. Its action is irreconcilable with any discriminatory, sexist, racist or anti-Semitic rationale."

The text that has been put forward provides a common grounding on values and practices uniting and demanding commitment from campaigners of the various contributing unions, namely:

• Employment and labour: "Fundamental factors of emancipation and social inclusion";
• Campaigning against discrimination in recruitment and at work: "From prejudice to racism and exclusion – unacceptable paths";
• Taking action on estates and in districts, cities and villages: "Living together in a climate of respect and well-being";
• Education, school: "Paths to becoming a good citizen: people become good citizens rather than being born as such"; and
• Secularism at work: "Freedom in a climate of mutual respect".

Education is crucial to producing good citizens

On the topic of education, the trade unions pointed out that "producing good citizens is a life-long process that applies to adults as well as young people". They added that it is a developmental process that does not occur in one single step.

They explained that "being a citizen means being recognised as a member of society and being able to take part in its political and economic life". It also means having rights (a right to education, employment, social protection, freedom, fundamental rights, etc.) as well as responsibilities (e.g. respecting these rights).

The unions take the view that education has "a crucial role" to play and must therefore be debated in order to define "the most consensual educational model possible".

They also noted that the main educational challenge is to overcome "the current correlation between educational inequality and social inequality which is particularly prevalent in our education system and is in some cases combined with regional inequality". The unions pointed out that if education and teaching delivered in schools are completely at odds with what society says and does, schools risk becoming impotent.

An educational model based on a social model

The unions emphasised that schools, formal and informal training establishments, families and institutions must all speak the same language as learning is difficult or even doomed to failure if young people are forced to choose between their families' culture and the culture of schools and associations. "Hence the importance of sharing an educational model that can only be based on a social model whose values and principles are part of a shared culture in society."

The joint trade union declaration therefore strongly urges union campaigners to take action to:

• Promote an education system that allows all young people to succeed;
• Promote an education system that works alongside research institutions to develop critical thinking, knowledge and skills, enabling everyone to fulfil their plans while developing personally and professionally;
• Promote an education system focused on equality and the fight against discrimination;
• Enable all staff to perform their duties successfully.

The trade unions furthermore stated that they have decided to cooperate on seeking and demanding solutions to the economic and social crisis. They have therefore made a solemn appeal to all their members and campaigners and in a wider sense, to all workers, to unite within their companies to block the rise of populism, extreme right ideology and grandstanding, while campaigning resolutely for trade unionist values and republican principles.