France: Over a million people strike against Sarkozy’s austerity policies

[Hannah Bell]

Two days after French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) had suffered a landslide defeat in the regional elections, over a million French public service and government employees struck yesterday against the government’s austerity plans. Many private sector workers also walked out.

Between 600,000 and 800,000 workers and youth participated in 177 demonstrations throughout the country.

In Paris between 30,000 and 60,000 marched. In Bordeaux the demonstration of some 20,000 stretched over three kilometres according to union figures, in Toulouse there were between 9,000 and 18,000 on the streets. The Marseille demonstration—50,000 by union estimates—included Lipton tea workers, on the third day of their strike. Trade unions estimated there were 25,000 marchers in Nantes, 15,000 marchers in Rouen, 17,000 marchers in Caen, and 30,000 marchers in Le Mans.


According to the national rail company SNCF, 28.3 percent of staff were on strike. Despite the minimum service regulations imposed in 2007, some 50 percent of normal trains and 35 percent of TGV express trains did not run.

Teacher unions estimated that over half of primary teachers, and about 40 percent of secondary school teachers walked out. Many primary schools were shut for the day. Many high school and university students also walked out of classes against education cuts and reductions in educational provision.

The civil service ministry reported that 17.4 percent of its employees were on strike. The tax and treasury staff and employees in the judiciary service were on strike against “the deterioration of working conditions linked to lack of staff,” and the increase of their workload...

Prime Minister François Fillon told the press yesterday that “the reduction of deficits...is an absolute priority.”

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/mar2010/fran-m24.shtml

[leftstreet]

1. 'Health is not a commodity'

:thumbsup:

K&R

[maryf]

5. Fantastic picture!!

Thanks!

[Luminous Animal]

2. While the people of France take to the streets...

to fight for economic and social justice, we get lectured by keyboard "activists" that collective action is worthless because it won't get reported on the news.

[sabrina 1]

3. This is why I admire Europeans, once they went Democratic

they took it seriously. Americans, especially Democrats, just lie down and take the most egregious garbage from their politicians that if it were tried in Europe, like this Health Insurance Bill eg, Politicians would be ousted instantly, if it was possible. And the majority of the country would agree.

Europe's politicians are just like ours, not to be trusted for the most part, but on issues that relate directly to the people, like health care eg, they would not dare try to do what has been done here without consequences for so long. If even ONE person was reported to have died for lack of health care, it would be headlines for months.

I don't know if people here are just more gullible, or if the political operatives are more effective, but witnessing how people here were led by the nose, first one way, then back again, and then another, sometimes supporting something today they disagreed with yesterday, I just don't get it.

People like kos from that useless excuse for a liberal blog, did a flip flop so blatantly from Dec. to Mar. and yet, people chose to ignore his garbage.

I have truly witnessed here, on this board, the cliche 'there are none so blind as those who will not see' in action, in real life. I know it applied to Freepers, but I honestly did not think democrats could be so easily manipulated.

[Selatius]

4. Problem is, Americans don't really have much input into the process. It's by design.

In many European countries, the people as a whole can and often do have the power to challenge an act of parliament or congress by petitioning for a referendum on such an act. If they don't like what the legislature did, the people can vote to reject that act. No such thing exists in the US. Also, many of these countries also have the ability to recall sitting legislators. No such provision exists in the US. If you elected a moron like Joe Lieberman, you're stuck for the next six years until his term expires. That's a long time to live with a mistake.

Finally, a third thing Americans lack that many Europeans are equipped with is publicly funded elections. Candidates who qualify for funding get a lump sum and a window of time to advertise their candidacy and platform. In the US, elections are largely funded by private cash. As a result, those with the most money tend to have undue influence over the electoral campaign.

It is perhaps the last element that is the most painful for the Republic. If it isn't addressed, it may lead to the replacement of the Republic by some form of corporate oligarchy.

[blindpig]

8. May?

They are just sealing the deal. The only thing I'm not sure of is the reason for the lack of discretion, some combination of hubris and desperation, I suppose.

k&r

[leftstreet]

9. Because there's nothing organized to push against it

I agree they're just 'sealing the deal.'

We live in a country and time where 'leftism' is actually (unbelievably) associated with 'Democrats'

:banghead:

[sabrina 1]

11. Good points, thank you for the information.

We live in an entirely different system mostly controlled by corporations and there is little or no labor party to look out for the working class. Look how difficult it is to even talk about a fair, livable wage here.

[krabigirl]

10. Yep. it's quite sad.

[maryf]

6. K&Rnt

[reggie the dog]

7. vive la france

vive la grève....