Edmond Maire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Edmond Maire
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Edmond Maire in 1978
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| General Secretary of the CFDT | |
| In office 1971–1988 |
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| Preceded by | Eugène Descamps |
| Succeeded by | Jean Kaspar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 January 1931 Épinay-sur-Seine, France |
| Died | 1 October 2017 (aged 86) France |
| Children | Jacques Maire |
| Education | Lycée Jacques-Decour |
Edmond Maire (born January 24, 1931 – died October 1, 2017) was an important French leader for workers. He was the head of a big workers' union called the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) from 1971 to 1988. He believed in finding new ways to solve problems, rather than always using strikes. He also supported the idea of sharing work and responsibilities more fairly among people.
Early Life and Education
Edmond Maire was born on January 24, 1931, in a town called Épinay-sur-Seine, which is close to Paris, France. His father worked for the railroad, and his mother was a homemaker. He grew up with six brothers and sisters in a Catholic family.
Maire went to school at the Collège-lycée Jacques-Decour in Paris. He did not go to university. Instead, he started working at age 18. He also took evening classes to study chemistry. After his studies, he completed his military service.
Career and Activism
Edmond Maire started his career as a chemist for a company called Pechiney. This company was located in Aubervilliers, near Paris. However, he soon left his job to focus on helping workers and making changes in society.
He first joined a Christian workers' union in 1954. In 1964, he helped create a new, non-religious union called the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT). Maire became the main leader of the CFDT in 1971, taking over from Eugène Descamps. He led the union until 1988.
Maire had a different way of thinking compared to some other union leaders. He believed that strikes, which are when workers stop working to demand better conditions, were sometimes "old-fashioned." Instead, he wanted to find other ways to improve things for workers. He strongly supported a more equal division of labour. This means sharing jobs and responsibilities more fairly among everyone.
He also joined the Socialist Party in 1974. He was friends with important politicians like Pierre Mendès France and Michel Rocard. Maire supported the idea of a 35-hour workweek, which means working fewer hours each week. This idea later became law in France in 2000.
After he left the CFDT union, Maire became the chief executive of a company called Villages Vacances Familles. This company offered affordable holiday villages for families. It is now known as Belambra Clubs.
Death and Legacy
Edmond Maire passed away on October 1, 2017. One of his sons, Jacques Maire, later became a member of the French Parliament.
When he died, the French Minister of Labour, Muriel Pénicaud, said that Edmond Maire "transformed and inspired industrial relations." This means he made a big positive difference in how workers and companies interact in France.
See also
In Spanish: Edmond Maire para niños
