I would think they probably look like this:
Posted on 07/12/2005 11:43:06 PM PDT by freepatriot32
They might have been congratulated for their "green" efforts in an area of heavy air pollution. Instead a group of French cleaning ladies who organised a car-sharing scheme to get to work are being taken to court by a coach company which accuses them of "an act of unfair and parasitical competition".
The women, who live in Moselle and work five days a week at EU offices in Luxembourg, are being taken to court by Transports Schiocchet Excursions, which runs a service along the route. It wants the women to be fined and their cars confiscated.
Two years ago a business tribunal threw out the company's case. It is now pursuing the women in a higher court, claiming that their action has cost it €2m (£1.4m). The women explained that for many years cleaners used the TSE line for the 40-minute ride across the border, which cost them €110 (£76) a month.
"Using our cars is quicker and at least twice as cheap. And on the bus we didn't have the right to eat or even to speak," said Martine Bourguignon. Odette Friedmann added: "In the evening instead of coming to get us at 9.30pm the bus would arrive at 10.30pm. If you made any comment to the driver you'd get a mouthful of abuse."
"It's absurd and ridiculous," said the women's lawyer, Cécile Klein-Schmitt. "I don't see how any magistrate can find any legal basis for this case."
TSE is also suing the women's employer, Onet-Luxembourg. "They've basically accused us of inciting the car-sharing scheme when we have nothing to do with the method of transport used by our staff," said director Frédéric Sirerol.
The court case will be heard in January next year.
Onet-Luxembourg is a cleaning service with 490 employees (via Google). This may be more than just a car pool.
But they're French maids. Surely that counts for something?
I agree wholeheartedly. Like I said at the beginning, I know it's wrong, but somehow seeing some Frenchies in hot water does make me smile. Having said that, you're absolutely right, they are being jerked around for actually exercising their freedom to choose (if they do actually have it in France, I don't know...after all, it's not like they have a right to work more than what the government mandates, etc.)
IMHO, this whole thing smells to me of an industry that's gotten too accustomed to using the government's hand to get its way...it wouldn't surprise me to hear they also get the government to set their rates, it being France.
Bottom line: your point is very well taken.
I would have to see what they look like before I give them credit
BUMP
No kidding. How long would it take our 9 black robed masters to refer to this case for "international opinion" if the bus company wins? How long until a government owned transit authority sued private carpoolers for loss of tax revenue?
I would think they probably look like this:
We need pictures!
Thanks for the pics.
I take the ladies' side on this issue.
I think you have dreams about being laid by the maid.
In that case, Vive les maids francaises!
-------I don't know where you get your assumptions, but all I see is a group of ladies who want to carpool to work to save money and make their commute a bit more pleasant. You slap some kind of leftist liberal label on them for exercising their freedom of choice as a consumer?------
Kind sounds silly to me too. No talking on the bus? Sounds like kindergarten to me.
The Gaul of them."?
I think Gomer Pyle was French then.
Parasitical? Only the French could come up with something like that. OTOH, those ladies are showing a little American enginuity there. Maybe there's still hope for France?
Actually, in this case, "The Gaul of them".
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.