France rallies against pension reform

[depakid]

Source: Sydney Morning Herald


United ... thousands demonstrated in Le Mans, western France, yesterday as workers across the country protested against plans to raise the retirement age.
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THE sniff of a new revolution was in the air yesterday as thousands of French workers downed tools and took to the streets in protest against government demands that they work harder - and longer - to age 62.

Teachers and nurses, airline staff, bus drivers, factory workers and bank clerks united in fury against Nicolas Sarkozy's administration, nicknamed ''bling bling'' for its perceived bias towards the moneyed elite. ''You won't see lawyers or bankers or politicians marching,'' said David, a 30-year-old taxi driver.
'But at the Elysee you will see one minister, one chauffeur, one bodyguard and him in the back seat … why should we work till we die while they do nothing?''

More than 200 rallies unfolded across France, with union leaders saying hundreds of thousands poured onto the streets in Paris alone in a last-ditch attempt to force an about-face on plans to raise the retirement age from 60. Enormous convoys of trucks armed with loudspeakers and decorated with hot air balloons bearing slogans demanding ''liberty but more importantly, equality'' choked streets, with workers marching in phalanxes beneath their union banners. Music blared and police appeared resigned to the melee.

Earlier, as the centre of Paris was prepared for the biggest of the rallies - to start at the symbolic Place de La Republique - quiet reigned momentarily as stranded office workers resorted to bicycles and mothers descended onto the streets to walk their children to the few preschools still open.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/france-rallies-against-pension-reform-20100907-14zia.html

[Mass]

1. From numbers in the French media, the demonstrations gathered between 1 and 3 million people

(1 according to the government, 2.5 to 3 according to the unions).

[Bragi]

2. Reform = Cutbacks

At least the French have the decency to protest and/or strike when they are fucked over.

Unlike in the U.S., where the victims typically blame themselves for getting fucked over.

[pezDispenser]

7. in the US, the victim doesn't blame themselves

they blame people with darker skin tones.

[Kolesar]

3. Cut the nuclear bombs budget

I don't know where else they can cut. They don't waste as much on weapons as we do. Prisons??

[kenny blankenship]

4. This is my dream for America

You see it in that photograph: A people who will not be pushed around and squeezed any more.

Standing up for yourself and your neighbor doesn't mean you will win. But if you won't even stand up you're already guaranteed to lose.

[Peregrine Took]

8. What's wrong with us? Too self absorbed? Too lazy?

I thought after the Bush stolen election people (us) would go nuts.

I ran to the computer to see who was mobilizing where downtown. Nothing. And yes, I could have gone out myself with my home made sign and stood there but I didn't.

[xchrom]

5. Recommend - workers CAN turn back this neo-liberal horseshit.

But they have to want to - like these guys.

[valerief]

6. Wow, I'm so impressed. I'm sure America will hear about this. NOT!

:cry:

[pampango]

9. BBC: Pension rallies hit French cities

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11204528

The rallies came as a 24-hour national strike disrupted flight and rail services, and closed schools. Officials said 1.1 million people had joined protests, but unions claimed the figure was 2.5 million.

The activists are angry at government plans to overhaul pensions and raise the retirement age from 60 to 62.

Under current rules, both men and women in France can retire at 60, providing they have paid social security contributions for 40.5 years - although they are not entitled to a full pension until they are 65.

Activists were also keen to maker a wider point, angry at the recent deportation of about 1,000 Roma (Gypsies) and a host of proposed laws which they say unfairly target immigrants and minorities. "Pensions are a pretext for protesting against the Sarkozy system," said Adji Ahoudian, a Socialist Party activist.