In the recent union elections in France, the CFDT (French Democratic Confederation of Labour) emerged as the leading union in the private sector, securing 26.58% of the vote.

This marks a slight decrease from 2021, when the CFDT garnered 26.77%.

The CGT (General Confederation of Labour), which previously held the top position until CFDT's ascendance in 2017, ranked second with 22.21% of the votes, down from 22.96% in the last election cycle.

Force Ouvrière (FO) placed third, obtaining 14.91%, a decrease from 15.24% in 2021.

These results were released by the General Directorate of Labour (DGT) on April 8, indicating that the overall representation of unions in the private sector has remained consistent.

While CFDT, CGT, and FO continue to dominate the top three spots, they have experienced a slight decline, allowing smaller unions to gain ground in the current labor landscape.

The CFDT has celebrated its position, marking the third consecutive time it has been voted the leading union among French labor organizations.

The union issued a statement from its leader, Marylise Léon, highlighting this achievement.

Meanwhile, the CGT has been unable to reclaim its former status as the largest union, despite performing well in elections for very small enterprises (TPE) and individual employees, where it captured 27.64% of votes, compared to CFDT's 14.86%.

The methodology for calculating union representation has followed a framework established by a law on union representativity from 2008, which incorporates votes from professional elections held every four years within companies employing at least 11 staff, as well as in TPE and agricultural chambers.

Unions that secure more than 8% of the vote are granted the ability to negotiate agreements, appoint representatives to labor tribunals, and receive state funding.

This representation is critical for the three leading unions as they approach their respective congresses slated for spring 2026, where the dynamics of power within and between unions will be significantly influenced by these results.

A notable development emerged with the CFE-CGC (Confederation of French Management Staff), which reported a 1.05% increase in its share of the vote, reaching 12.95%.

This places it close to FO, which it trails by two points.

The CFE-CGC president, François Hommeril, expressed optimism regarding the union's growth among management and technical personnel.

The outcomes of this electoral round were also pivotal for smaller unions such as Solidaires and UNSA, which noted strong performances in sectors like in-home care and early childhood education.

UNSA achieved a vote share of 6.45%, up from 5.98%, while Solidaires increased their share to 3.75%, slightly up from 3.66%.

Despite the overall electoral performance, voter turnout was low, even following strong mobilizations against pension reforms in 2023 which had seen significant public participation and increased membership for various unions.

A report from the Ministry of Labour's Directorate for Animation, Research, Studies, and Statistics (DARES) released in January pointed to a 3% decline in the number of companies with elected representative bodies and a 5% decrease in those with union delegates between 2017 and 2023.