Massive strike in France

"Paris 2012 is seven years away, our wages matter today"

IN FRANCE, in one of the biggest trade union mobilisations, one million people took to the streets on 10 March demanding better wages and battling against a longer working week.

Karl Debbaut, Rouen, France

It was the third national day of strikes and demonstrations in France this year. The day started with massive demonstrations in the south of France, in Toulouse and in Marseille, where 100,000 people marched in the biggest demonstration of the day. There were also demonstrations in Paris, Lille and Strasbourg.

Everywhere the same picture appeared. Workers in private enterprise joined their colleagues of the public sector around three main demands: against the abolition of the 35-hour working week, in defence of the public services, and against the erosion of wages.

The strikes and actions would not have been reported in Britain at all if they did not coincide with the visit of the International Olympic Committee to inspect Paris as one of the candidate cities for the 2012 Olympics.

Part of the French media accused the trade unions of jeopardising the Parisian bid. Activists of Force Ouvriere, one of the trade unions, carried placards saying: "Paris 2012 is seven years away, our wages matter today."

Big contingents of school students joined the protest or stood along the side of the road to support the demonstrations. On 8 March more than 160,000 struck against the government's 'reform' of education.

Scientific researchers, of whom 5,000 marched the day before in Paris, joined together with workers in industry, postal workers and teachers. Veterans of many demonstrations and class struggles joined with young workers and school students on their first demonstration.

Building the struggle

GAUCHE REVOLUTIONNAIRE (CWI, France - the Socialist Party's counterpart) were present in six cities including Paris, Lille, Rouen and Marseille. Our leaflet called for the building of general assemblies in all work places to organise the next phase of the struggle. We called for the immediate preparation towards a public and private sector 24-hour general strike.

Our political demands were well received, including our insistence on the necessity to create a mass fighting party of the working class, capable of organising and uniting the experience and struggle of workers, unemployed and youth. A party that could offer a real alternative to this capitalist system.

Such a party would fight for a socialist society in which the main, determining sectors of the economy be placed under workers' control and management.

Printing worker

OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT reached 10% last month, the highest figure since February 2000.

The only 'offer' the French government is prepared to make is a promise to invest 1.4 billion euro in an attempt to extend the low wage sector in the economy combined with initiatives to make hiring and firing easier.

Jean Luc, a worker in a print factory near Lille:

"We are worried for the future of our children. The labour law is being trampled upon. Soon they will be able to lay off 30 workers at once without notice. The metal and textile industry are finished. New jobs are at the minimum wage and then they still say it is too expensive... Only a mass movement can change things".

Public-sector worker

ANNE, A public service worker for 14 years in Strasbourg with a monthly wage of 1,400 euro, including bonuses, explained:

"I am here to defend the 35-hour week, the right to work and the public services. I am here to say no to the closure of post offices and schools.

Normally it is exceptional that I join a strike but taking account of what is at stake I am ready to join the strike for two or three weeks.

I am very fortunate not to have children and that I earn more than the minimum wage, but I know a lot of people who are not able to find even a part-time job. Those who have work are being asked to work longer hours for the same wage.

The government should stop treating us like idiots."

Renault workers

THERE IS widespread anger at the attempts of the bosses to introduce longer working hours. However, the real experience of the introduction of the 35-hour week by the last 'Gauche Plurielle' (Parti Socialiste, Parti Communiste Francais and Greens) government is not forgotten.

In many cases the 35-hour week was used to increase worker productivity in the private sector. At Renault for example they produced 6,000 cars in a five-day working week before the introduction of the 35-hour week, now they produce the same amount in four days and with the same number of workers.

Didier, a technician at Renault in Guyancourt, pointed out that:

"Last year, Renault made 3.5 billion euro in profits after paying taxes, and management offered us a real wage raise of 1.53% in 2005."

Iraq: Troops out now

Occupation and the resistance

Bush and 'democratic revolutions'

'Scary prospect' of US economic catastrophe

Massive strike in France

Home | The Socialist 19 March 2005 | Join the Socialist Party

Subscribe | Donate | Bookshop