Mass protests shake French government (3 million)

[Hannah Bell]

Over three million workers participated in a strike yesterday against the pension cuts of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, with workers in several industrial sectors voting to extend strike action.

Amid widespread fears in the press of “radicalization”—that is, that the strikes could escape the control of the trade unions and the bourgeois “left” parties—a confrontation is brewing between the working class and the entire political establishment.

The protests were called by the unions against a measure to increase the retirement age on a full pension from 65 to 67. The cut also increases the minimum retirement age from 60 to 62. While these key provisions have passed, the Senate is due to vote on remaining portions of the legislation this week.

Sarkozy is insisting that the government will not back down on the reforms, which are only the first step in plans for massive austerity measures...The overwhelming majority of the population supports the strikes and opposes Sarkozy’s reforms. A CSA poll for Le Parisien found that 69 percent of the population supports the strike, and 61 percent support continuing the strikes. Another poll found that 68 percent disapprove of Sarkozy...

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2010/oct2010/fran-o13.shtml

[davepc]

1. We could use a few general strikes here in the USA.

Never happen though.

[billlll]

2. when next elections

To oust Parliamentarians who seem to not follow public will (as seen in that poll) ?

Any other EU nation equal to France in opposition to austerity?

[Rex]

3. Reform starts with the wealthy paying the lions share of money into

the system and being thankful for everyday they get to be lazy and unproductive - while still making an assload of money in the markets.

[sabrina 1]

4. I love the way the French people handle their politicians.

They let them know who is in charge. Three million out in the streets and this is the the third huge demonstration since the Summer. Combined with general strikes across the country because the government tried to do what OUR Government is doing with hardly a peep from the American people who appear to be so traumatized by the abuse they've taken from their govt. for so long, they just lie down like sheep and take whatever is handed to them.

Worse, we have people even on this board DEFENDING what the French are refusing to accept. They REFUSE to accept the Government forcing the people to pay for the debt THEY put the country in. Here? The people have no say at all, and it is their own fault.

I bet there will be no austerity programs in France. Like Iceland and Greece those people know what Democracy means.

We need to take a lesson from these countries. Americans are like abused spouses, so terrified that their favorite team won't win an election that they are willing to roll over and sacrifice the elderly and the disabled, children and the poor, just to win. And what exactly does winning mean if you lose your principles?

Viva La France. Those people know how to run a democracy.

[xchrom]

5. Recommend

[Greyhound]

6. K&R. Does anyone know if the French have anything resembling Taft-Hartley? n/t

[blindpig]

8. I don't think they would stand for it.

Taft-Hartley de-legitimatized the 'sympathy strike', none of this could happen in France with a law like that.

More importantly, Taft-Hartley forced Leftists out of leadership positions in US unions. It is not surprising that union growth ground to a halt and the damaging concessions began in this time frame. Leftists were demonized in the US from the late 40's onward, in France they were heroes of the Resistance against the Nazis and major political players, they wouldn't put up with that shit.

[Greyhound]

9. I agree. I just don't know any specifics about their laws. n/t

[fasttense]

7. We need to get some of those French Union Leaders to the US.

Corporations are allowed to outsource and in-source any American job their whim desires, so workers need to do the same thing. We need to out source some leftist leadership with back bone.

I bet a handful of French Union leaders could get some really huge protests going.