François Schlosser

Born in Alsace at the end of the years 1930, François Schlosser is high within a deeply catholic large family and modest. With a Christian father militant with the M.R.P., it bathes in an atmosphere Christian-Democrat of which it keeps a mark more moral than political. In this family circle without school large capital, it is characterized by an academic success sanctioned by its entry with the Institut from political studies from the University from Paris.

Parallel to the course, it profits from a solid formation in German. At its exit, it prepares the entrance examination to ENA while carrying out an administrative work with the Quay of Orsay. But, grabbed by its military obligations, it must carry out two years of service in Algérie. It is there that its political conscience emerges truly and anchors itself deeply on the left. Of return to Paris with the desire for working in journalism, it must initially work in a business firm on the opening on Brussels and the agricultural legislature. But in 1964, it finds an employment with the Réalités monthly magazine as writer in foreign politics.

If, at the beginning, it carries out also articles of company, it specializes gradually on the questions of foreign politics, in particular about the Franco-German relations, which is worth to him to carry out a series of discussions with German persons in charge like Adœnauer. Chapeautant very quickly the foreign sector, it particularly directs its articles against the war of Vietnam and the American imperialism. But the monthly magazine, rather “liberal” with the American direction, does not want to be not engaged, and if it tries with some others (from of which Alain Schiffres) to draw his political line “a little on the left”, its director Alfred max maintains his course in the center if it is not on the right.

It created a section C.F.D.T then., finding itself in this organization of the left not-Communist freed from the parties but very progressist. Very active with the head of this section, in particular in 1968, it is politically close to the socialist, democratic and self-management mobility which the confederation incarnates. That does not prevent its owner from charging it with the Preuves review at the time of its repurchase in 1970. It there follows with interest the evolution of the self-management current and offers to its leaders (Edmond Maire, Michel Rocard, ect…) spaces to express itself. But, wearied by the monthly rate/rhythm, it wishes to work in a newspaper in which it is found more politically. Thus, after several contacts with the Nouvel Observateur and the concluding of an agreement in principle with Jean Daniel in 1972, it agrees to lose a quarter of its wages to join the team of the street of Aboukir. But it is only one year after and following the departure of Jean-Pierre Joulin whom it is called with the weekly magazine. In August 1973, it thus starts its collaboration by covering Germany and the Central and Eastern Europe Très quickly, it takes in heart to cover the Chilean dictatorship, interviewing for example an intellectual like Alain Touraine on the subject (October 1st, 1973). In the same way, if it treats with attention the European question, the relation américano-European or Franco-German, it publishes starting from 1974 several articles on the business of Portugal. It shows also a great interest for the questions having milked with the third world, interviewing on this subject the Egyptian economist Samir Amin (February 15th, 1975) and, by twice, the Socialist Claude Cheysson.

In the first years, it ensures the coordination of the foreign pages without exerting a great directivity or authority. But gradually it ensures a certain autonomy the service in term of definition of the subjects and is essential at its head. On the level of the line of the newspaper, he recognizes himself a long time in the position of Jean Daniel on the Israeli-Arab question even if he finds the drafting not enough with the listening of the injustices made to the Palestinians. He shows a certain distrust with regard to the passion of the newspaper for the Carter presidency and his defense of the human rights. Lastly, as from 1980, it treats more and more the Middle East, in particular the Iran-Irack war.

From 1975, its role with the newspaper as holds with the trade-union functions as he exerts with a continuous support and almost general. In spite of the effects on its relationship with the direction, it takes the head of inter-union and is opposed to the financial and commercial devitalisation which the creation of the Morning (1977) generates. It carries out also rough salary negotiations which lead to the fixing of a scale going from 1 to 3,5 - later from 1 to 4 - and of increase into fixed (100 francs for all the first year) and not expressed as a percentage. It also created the consensus for a progressive raising of the low wages and, about 1979 or 1981, the fixing of a Christmas bonus.

Sources

Maintenance with François Schlosser with François Kraus - Paris - 2004

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