It is with great sadness we learn that our colleague, Giovanni Sergio, have passed away on April 13, 2025.
We remember him as an outstanding trade unionist, who was President of Union Syndicale Fédérale from 1998 to 2008. We benefited from his many qualities as a leader: he knew how to manage debates involving highly antagonistic positions, finely distinguishing emotional elements from substance, in the search for the best possible consensus, with respect for all.
Mastering both technical and tactical elements, as well as strategic objectives, he knew how to put stalled issues back on track with wisdom and patience. His conviction was profoundly syndicalist and European, and he was perfectly capable of placing our action in the institutional context, and this in the context of history and global politics, without pretension or exaggeration.
We relished his Latin proverbs, which regularly reminded us how irony helps to keep things in perspective and enabled us to check whether our conclusions were right, or whether the debate had led us into a dead end.
His qualities were recognised beyond the trade union world; the respect he earned from government representatives was visible, deep-rooted and well earned.
We thank you, Giovanni.
Peter Kempen
USF General Secretary
