Saturday, December 8, 2007

Struggles in France Continue

Mike Tolochko

35 major universities in France are still on strike. Many high school students are also on strike. This is certainly reminiscent of past national movements in the French scene.

The judges and lawyers strikes of a few days ago were very large and impressive. Sarkozy is attempting to shut down over 300 courts.

None of these facts are reported in the USA.

The negotiations between the CGT and the Metro RATP; and the CGT leadership and members in Railway [TGV], etc, and the French Railway management are now in their crucial phase.

The return to work strategy of the CGT which took place a few weeks ago, ending that period of over a week of striking is now coming to and end. The strikers, then, agreed to return to work for a couple of weeks, while neogitations continued. There hasn't been any movement by the Sarkozy government.

Therefore, this week, there will be a strike of the Paris CGT Metro on Wednesday; and a strike of the CGT Railway unions on Thursday. Another shot over the bow of a wavering, but nervous Sarkozy government.

The issue on the table is Sarkozy's demand that workers retire three years longer than they can now; with a much smaller pension. Sarkozy is attempting to win off longer tenured workers with more money.

Stay tuned.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Sorry -- unclear: "...The issue on the table is Sarkozy's demand that workers retire three years longer than they can now; with a much smaller pension. Sarkozy is attempting to win off longer tenured workers with more money..."
Retire three years sooner or later
with smaller pension? Does 'longer tenured' mean 'with more seniority'? How will S. buy them off with more money?