This is called a bad buzz. This weekend, the CGT union of information and communication employees, CGT Info'Com, unleashed a torrent of criticism by publishing several posters attacking the head of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, on his twitter account. On a first poster, the organization shows Laurent Berger, shirtless and necklace around his neck, in front of the head of Medef, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux. The title: " Sado and Maso, a Medefdt production ".
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By this visual published on Saturday May 9, the CGT Info'Com intended to denounce the positions taken by the CFDT, deemed too close to the employers, including in the Renault factory affair in Sandouville, subject to tensions between the unions . Faced with the avalanche of criticism of the poster's “ homophobia ”, the organization justified itself by writing that “ sadomasochism is a sexual perversion (practiced by heterosexuals or homosexuals) in which excitement is obtained under the action of physical pain and humiliation (masochism) and by inflicting pain on the partner (sadism) ”. " Assimilation to a homophobic message is therefore foreign to our objective as well as to our values or the defense of all the oppressed or discriminated against", She adds.
The first poster published by CGT Info'Com, deleted from Twitter screenshot
Far from apologizing, the CGT Info'Com then persisted, by publishing a second visual on Sunday morning, showing the Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud, in domineering clothes against Laurent Berger, with the same title. " Internet users do not appreciate the poster released yesterday aimed at denouncing the words of Laurent Berger following the action of the CGT at Renault Sandouville. Here is another version. Would you say she is "sexist"? The debate is open… ”, writes the union.
The second poster, this time showing Muriel Pénicaud Twitter screenshot
Customary provocative posters, especially against the police, the CGT Info'Com has gone too far, even for its own union: the CGT publicly disavowed the organization, condemning in a tweet " without reservation these posters. This type of communication only discredits union action. At the CGT, we have other arguments than these, those of the interests of the workers and social justice, "criticizes the Montreuil power station. The CFDT considered that these posters were "ignoble". " They are an insult to all employees and agents who vote for the CFDT, as well as for its members, " said the union in a statement, condemning " with the utmost firmness " this campaign.
Medef spokesperson Fabrice Le Saché also criticized an " odious and unworthy " campaign . Info'Com has since deleted its offending tweets.