One of the themes of earlier chapters has been the differences and similarities between two main streams of French thought regarding foreigners/immigrants, which may be roughly identified with the right and the left. I have also referred to differences within the left that are characteristic of two contrasting strands in French socialism. This chapter looks more closely at these differences as they emerge in the context of organized labor's attempts to grapple with the problems of immigrants at work.

The chapter is centered around three industrial disputes (Events 6–8). A fourth (Event 9) will be considered at somewhat greater length in Chapter 10. These disputes enable us to see how the two main trade-union groups, the CGT and the CFDT, handle the problems of immigrants in employment, and the problems posed for the unions by immigrant participation in the labor force. The material also throws light on the general relationship between French and immigrant workers in industry. Before looking at the case material, however, two somewhat technical points must be made.

The first concerns the organization of French trade unions. Earlier, in Chapter 3, I noted that there are several different groups of trade unions in France, of which the most important are the CGT and CFDT. Both are active in the main industrial sectors in Lyon, and both are organized in a similar fashion with separate unions for each industrial sector (building, engineering, etc.).