Louis André Saillant (; 27 November 1910 – 28 October 1974) was a

French French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

trade unionist and resistance fighter.

Biography

Born in

Valence, Drôme Valence (, ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in southeastern France, the prefecture of the Drôme Departments of France, department and within the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regions of France, region. It is situated on the left bank of the Rhô ...

, Saillant worked as a cabinet maker. He became active in the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), becoming secretary of its Building and Woodworkers' Federation. In 1940, the

Vichy government Vichy France (; 10 July 1940 – 9 August 1944), officially the French State ('), was a French rump state headed by Marshal Philippe Pétain during World War II, established as a result of the French capitulation after the defeat against ...

outlawed trade unions, but the CGT continued, illegally, in support of the

French Resistance The French Resistance ( ) was a collection of groups that fought the German military administration in occupied France during World War II, Nazi occupation and the Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy#France, collaborationist Vic ...

. Saillant was a signatory to the ''Manifesto of the Twelve'', in which twelve leading trade unionists publicly opposed Vichy policy, and was also active in

Libération-Nord ("Liberation-North") was one of the principal resistance movements in the northern occupied zone of France during the Second World War. It was one of the eight great networks making up the National Council of the Resistance. History Initial ...

. In 1943, the CGT was a founding element of the

National Council of the Resistance The National Council of the Resistance (; CNR; also, National Resistance Council) directed and coordinated the different movements of the French Resistance during World War II: the press, trade unions and political parties hostile to the Vichy ...

(CNR), and Saillant became its delegate to the CNR, taking over as chair of the resistance in 1944. In 1945, he attended the

World Trade Union Conference The World Trade Union Conference was a conference that was held between 6–17 February 1945. The conference was participated by countries from all around the world, at the County Hall, London. Regarded as a significant moment within the internat ...

in London alongside many renowned trade unionists and he was elected as the general secretary of the

World Federation of Trade Unions The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is an international federation of trade union, trade unions established on October 3, 1945. Founded in the immediate aftermath of World War Two, the organization built on the pre-war legacy of the Int ...

(WFTU). When the anti-communist wing split away from the CGT and formed

Workers' Force The General Confederation of Labor - Workers' Force (, or simply , FO), is one of the five major union confederations in France. In terms of following, it is the third behind the CGT and the CFDT. Force Ouvrière was founded in 1948 by former ...

(FO), he supported the generally communist majority, but thereafter devoted his time to the WFTU. In 1948, he was excluded from the

French Section of the Workers' International The French Section of the Workers' International (, SFIO) was a major socialist political party in France which was founded in 1905 and succeeded in 1969 by the present Socialist Party. The SFIO was founded in 1905 as the French representativ ...

(SFIO) for having sided with the CGT in the split. Saillant denounced the

1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia On 20–21 August 1968, the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was jointly invaded by four fellow Warsaw Pact countries: the Soviet Union, the Polish People's Republic, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, and the Hungarian People's Republic. The in ...

. He resigned as leader of the WFTU shortly afterwards, blaming health problems, and was instead made honorary president of the federation. He was also president of the World Peace Movement, and won the

Lenin Prize The Lenin Prize (, ) was one of the most prestigious awards of the Soviet Union for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was originally created on June 23, 1925, and awarded until 1934. During ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Saillant, Louis 1910 births 1974 deaths People from Valence, Drôme French Section of the Workers' International politicians Members of the Provisional Consultative Assembly Members of the General Confederation of Labour (France) French Resistance members Recipients of the Lenin Peace Prize Recipients of the Resistance Medal