French diplomats on global strike ("de Villepin & their grand ambitions for France")

BBC ^ | Monday, 1 December, 2003, 14:37 GMT | Editors

[Helms]

French diplomats on global strike

Villepin urged staff to reconsider French diplomats staged their first-ever strike on Monday in a protest over planned budget cuts. Some embassasies and consulates were closed, while others offered much-reduced staffing levels and services.

Missions in Italy and Pakistan were badly hit, and Jakarta ambassador Renaud Vignal declared himself on strike while remaining at his desk.

Trades unions are protesting against moves to cut jobs and costs in the diplomatic service.

Employees do not understand how the president and government can proclaim their grand ambitions for France... while the human and financial resources available to the ministry are constantly declining

Unions' statement

"In practically all our missions as well as here in the central administration the strike movement has been followed, but to varying degrees," said French Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous.

Unions were predicting that up to 40 French missions around the world would be hit by the strike.

A protest rally was due to be held in Paris outside the upper house of parliament, the Senate, where the Foreign Ministry budget was due for discussion.

Union officials say basic requirements including maintenance and allowances are being pared, while Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin embarks on high-profile and expensive foreign trips.

"Employees do not understand how the president of the republic and the government can proclaim their grand ambitions for France on the international scene while at the same time the human and financial resources available to the ministry are constantly declining," the six unions behind the protest said in a statement.

Mr De Villepin last week urged diplomats to call off the strike.

There isn't a kopek at the ministry - half the lifts are out of order because there is no money to mend them

He admitted that circumstances were "difficult", but said the strike plans were "no ordinary matter".

The proposed budget for next year envisages a 2% reduction in foreign ministry costs, and a number of job cuts.

In addition to 154 embassies there are 98 consulates, and nearly 500 cultural offices and French-language schools.

"There isn't a kopek at the ministry," said Yvan Sergesse of the UNSA union.

"Half the lifts are out of order because there is no money to mend them. Abroad staff are working up to 14 hours per day."

This is the first time that unions have called on diplomats and embassy staff around the world to strike.

France's foreign ministry network is second in size only to that of the United States employing 9,200 permanent staff and 13,000 local employees around the world..

[Tacis]

Are French diplomatic employees around the world entitled to bribes, payoffs or kickbacks while they are on strike? What about the income usually derived from the sale of visas, clean police reports, or letters of credit with blank spaces/endorsements?

[proxy_user]

"...and Jakarta ambassador Renaud Vignal declared himself on strike while remaining at his desk.

There are some guys like that at my office!

[Dog]

Can someone explain to me how a countries diplomats can go on strike??

[69ConvertibleFirebird]

...while others offered much-reduced staffing levels and services.

So... Surrenders will be more sloppy and have fewer staff?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

"Are French diplomatic employees around the world entitled to bribes, payoffs or kickbacks while they are on strike? What about the income usually derived from the sale of visas, clean police reports, or letters of credit with blank spaces/endorsements?"

This is the main source of their money.

[kevao]

grand ambitions for France on the international scene

HA ha ha ha ha...HAAA ha ha ha...HAAAAAAA ha ha ha ha ha... That's a good one!

[nuconvert]

"French diplomats on global strike"
"154 embassies there are 98 consulates, and nearly 500 cultural offices and French-language schools"

Quite a network they have. Want to make sure they have their hands in every pie.


[A strike means they are no longer "bearing papers"?]

[e_engineer]

I thought the name "Dominique de Villepin" was always supposed to be followed with the words "(who is a man)" to show the proper respect for the French, and avoid confusion with the character from 101 Dalmations.

[bert]

.....French brilliance......

a brilliant piece of diplomatic work. Balancing carefully on the fence he will muddle through unscathed.

By the way, what is the Frog word for scab?

[Loyalist]

Fire the French diplomats and outsource their jobs to the Arab world. They already set French foreign policy anyway.

[laotzu]

"Fire the French diplomats and outsource their jobs to the Arab world. They already set French foreign policy anyway."

Right on!! Well said!

Really, well said.

[BushisTheMan]

Can someone explain to me how a countries diplomats can go on strike??

When you are worthless and don't do anything anyway but get in the way...

[VaBthang4]

These people are all idiots.

All of'em!

[rightwingcrazy]

Fire the French diplomats and outsource their jobs to the Arab world. They already set French foreign policy anyway.

They forgot to blame the Americans and the Zionists. Doh!

[Helms]

Fire the French diplomats and outsource their jobs to the Arab world. They already set French foreign policy anyway."

Totally agree, that sums it up. Eurabia uberalis.

[LibertarianInExile]

Anyone know how many U.S. State officials there are? Since traveling overseas, I've kind of come to realize that there are WAAAAAAY too many of our own diplomats and desk huggers and they are almost all anti-U.S. nationalism. One-World Globalists own State.

[Helms]

Unknown, you might try searching google or yahoo.