What is a union section?

Verified 16 October 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

A trade union may, under certain conditions, set up a trade union section in a company. The trade union section brings together members of the same trade union organization. It represents the material and moral interests of the employees it represents. It benefits from material means to ensure its missions. We're taking stock of the regulations.

A trade union section may be established by the following trade unions:

  • Union representative in the company or at the level of establishment
  • Trade union affiliated with a representative trade union organization at national and inter-branch level
  • A non-representative trade union that meets all of the following conditions:
    • It meets the criteria of respect for republican values and independence (respect for freedom of political opinion, for example)
    • It has been legally constituted for at least 2 years
    • Its professional and geographical scope covers the company
    • It meets the financial transparency criterion (e.g. compliance with accounting obligations).

A trade union can set up a trade union section in the company if it counts at least 2 members.

No formalities are foreseen for the creation of a trade union section.

To avoid litigation, it is recommended to inform the employer in writing (letter RAR: titleContent, hand-delivered letter against discharge, for example).

The trade union section may collect union dues through its members. In some cases, it benefits from a time credit, a room and a billboard.

Collecting union dues

The union section has no own financial resources.

Nevertheless, union dues may be collected within the company by the shop steward, the representative of the trade union section or its members.

Credit of hours to negotiate with the employer

Each union section has one hours credit for its shop steward and the employees of the company called to negotiate the agreement or company agreement.

This credit of hours is intended for the preparation of the negotiation of this agreement or agreement.

It may not exceed:

  • 12 hours per year in companies with at least 500 employees,
  • 18 hours per year in companies with at least 1,000 employees.

This time credit is global, meaning that it is allocated to the union section regardless of the number of agreements concluded in the same year.

Display on reserved panels

Union communications are displayed freely on signs reserved for this purpose.

These signs are distinct from those assigned to communications of the CSE: titleContent.

Each panel must be assigned to one union only.

Distribution of leaflets

Leaflets and publications of a trade union nature may be freely distributed to employees of the company within its premises, at the hours of entry and exit from work.

Premises made available to the trade union section

The employer's obligations differ depending on the size of the company:

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

Company with less than 200 employees

The employer has no obligation to make premises available to the union section(s).

Company of 200 or more employees

The employer must provide the union sections with common premises for the performance of the duties of their delegate and representative of the union sections.

The layout and use of the premises made available to them shall be determined by agreement with the employer.

Company of 1,000 or more employees

The employer shall make available to each trade union section a room equipped with the necessary equipment for its operation.

The layout and use of the premises made available to them shall be determined by agreement with the employer.

Each trade union section may meet its members once a month in the company.

Meetings take place outside the working premises (e.g. in the trade union premises). They also take place outside the participants' working hours.

An agreement with the employer determines the conditions for holding these meetings.

The trade union section is represented by the shop steward where the trade union is representative in the company.

It is represented by the representative of the trade union section where the trade union is not representative in the company.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Administrative information by telephone - Allô Service Public

    • accès

      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their progress.

      He does not respond questions concerning unemployment compensation and the approach to the France Labor (formerly Job center), public servants or contract workers of the fCivil Service, the amount or payment of contributions social, wage or employer.

    • horaires
      • Lundi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Mardi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Mercredi : de 08h30 à 12h15
      • Jeudi : de 08h30 à 17h30
      • Vendredi : de 13h00 à 16h15

    • Request a call

      coût Service Free
    • service

      The informants who answer you belong to the ministry responsible for labor.

FAQ