André Renard
Encyclopedia
André Renard was the leader of an important tendency in the Walloon tradeunionism
, a left-wing syndicalist faction grew up in the underground labour movement, opposed to close ties with any political parties André Renard was the leader of this faction. He gives his name to the Renardism
which is also, both ideologically and pragmatically, the programm of the most important part of the Walloon Movement
since the general strike of the winter of 1960-1961 in Wallonia. This strike was managed by the General Federation of Belgian Labour
, at least its Walloon components.
came back to Belgium. On his return to Belgium in 1950, he was met with the General strike against Leopold III of Belgium
. As Secretary-General of the General Federation of Belgian Labour, Renard made this statement for Le Soir
: From today , the words insurrection and revolution will have for us a practical sense. We will use them in our daily life vocabulary.
, to the Economic and Social Committee
. He was even president of this Committee (1954–1955). By 1955, he tried to push for more social and economical competences for the Committee (prices and wage setting, investment...) in the field of social harmonization in general. But he failed.
. During the strike he claimed the strike were : “For a Walloon Wallonia: against the Loi Unique: against the misery in Borinage
: against the oppression of unitary government: against the Flemish Government: against the murderers of the Walloon people.” (The Times
, January 10, 1961).
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
Resistance and a new faction in the Syndicalism
During the World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a left-wing syndicalist faction grew up in the underground labour movement, opposed to close ties with any political parties André Renard was the leader of this faction. He gives his name to the Renardism
Renardism
Renardism is a theory specific to the socialism based on the thought of André Renard, combining Syndicalism and Walloon militancy.In a speech on November 17, 1960 at Charleroi, in front of a large gathering of syndicalists, André Renard partly explained the tactical aspects of his theory as...
which is also, both ideologically and pragmatically, the programm of the most important part of the Walloon Movement
Walloon Movement
The Walloon Movement is an umbrella term for all Belgian political movements that either assert the existence of a Walloon identity or defend French culture and language within Belgium. The movement began as a defence of the primacy of French but later gained political and socio-economic objectives...
since the general strike of the winter of 1960-1961 in Wallonia. This strike was managed by the General Federation of Belgian Labour
General Federation of Belgian Labour
-External links:* Official site.*...
, at least its Walloon components.
Against Leopold III of Belgium
In July 1950, Léopold III of BelgiumLeopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
came back to Belgium. On his return to Belgium in 1950, he was met with the General strike against Leopold III of Belgium
General strike against Leopold III of Belgium
The Royal Question refers to the 1950 political conflict surrounding the question whether King Leopold III should return to Belgium after World War II. A referendum was organised, in which the majority voted in favour of his return...
. As Secretary-General of the General Federation of Belgian Labour, Renard made this statement for Le Soir
Le Soir
Le Soir is a Berliner Format Belgian newspaper. Le Soir was founded in 1887 by Emile Rossel. It is the most popular Francophone newspaper in Belgium, and considered a newspaper of record.-Editorial stance:...
: From today , the words insurrection and revolution will have for us a practical sense. We will use them in our daily life vocabulary.
In the ECSC
André Renard was member of the Consultative Committee, similar, in the European Coal and Steel CommunityEuropean Coal and Steel Community
The European Coal and Steel Community was a six-nation international organisation serving to unify Western Europe during the Cold War and create the foundation for the modern-day developments of the European Union...
, to the Economic and Social Committee
Economic and Social Committee
The European Economic and Social Committee is a body of the European Union established in 1958. It is a consultative assembly composed of employers , employees and representatives of various other interests...
. He was even president of this Committee (1954–1955). By 1955, he tried to push for more social and economical competences for the Committee (prices and wage setting, investment...) in the field of social harmonization in general. But he failed.
At the head of the Walloon movement
He was the leader of the 1960-1961 Winter General Strike1960-1961 Winter General Strike
1960–1961 Winter General Strike was the most important strike of the 20th century in Belgium and was called the Strike of the Century. Its triggering factor was Eyskens' government introducing a number of austerity policies under the general name Loi unique...
. During the strike he claimed the strike were : “For a Walloon Wallonia: against the Loi Unique: against the misery in Borinage
Misère au Borinage
Misère au Borinage is a 1933 Belgian documentary film directed by Henri Storck and Joris Ivens.The film opens with these words: Crisis in the Capitalist World. Factories are closed down, abandoned...
: against the oppression of unitary government: against the Flemish Government: against the murderers of the Walloon people.” (The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
, January 10, 1961).
External links
See also
- RenardismRenardismRenardism is a theory specific to the socialism based on the thought of André Renard, combining Syndicalism and Walloon militancy.In a speech on November 17, 1960 at Charleroi, in front of a large gathering of syndicalists, André Renard partly explained the tactical aspects of his theory as...
- Belgian general strikesBelgian general strikesThe Belgian general strikes were a peculiar phenomenon of the social, economical and political life in Belgium due to huge concentrations of workers in the Belgian Cities as Ghent, Antwerp, mainly in Wallonia, in Charleroi and Liège but also in other places in the Walloon Sillon industriel, e.g....
- General strike against Leopold III of BelgiumGeneral strike against Leopold III of BelgiumThe Royal Question refers to the 1950 political conflict surrounding the question whether King Leopold III should return to Belgium after World War II. A referendum was organised, in which the majority voted in favour of his return...
- 1960-1961 Winter General Strike1960-1961 Winter General Strike1960–1961 Winter General Strike was the most important strike of the 20th century in Belgium and was called the Strike of the Century. Its triggering factor was Eyskens' government introducing a number of austerity policies under the general name Loi unique...
- RegionalismRegionalismIn politics, regionalism is a political ideology that focuses on the interests of a particular region or group of regions, whether traditional or formal...