Posted on 03/26/2006 8:01:35 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
FRANCE is bracing for a "black Tuesday" of strikes and demonstrations against the government's contested youth jobs contract, amid warnings of a growing risk of violence.
An alliance of trade unions and student organisations has called for a fifth day of nationwide protests in its campaign against Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's First Employment Contract (CPE), which makes it easier for employers to hire and fire under 26 year-olds.
Public transport is expected to be badly hit across the country, with only one metro train in two operating in the capital. Airport authorities have warned passengers to expect delays and cancellations.
Bernard Thibault of the General Labour Confederation (CGT) union said he hoped Tuesday (local time) would be a "turning-point" in the three-week long protest movement.
"We have not yet reached the climax of the dispute. Each day of action has seen an ever bigger turn-out ... The only solution is withdrawal of the CPE. And we can do it," he told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper.
Another powerful union - Workers' Force (FO) - has called for work stoppages to extend beyond Wednesday unless the government backs down.
The escalation follows protests in Paris that turned violent on Friday and then two days of fruitless contacts between Mr Villepin and delegations of union and student leaders.
Union leaders stormed out of a meeting with the prime minister on Saturday accusing him of intransigence, and yesterday the main student groups boycotted their encounter - instead reading a prepared text outside Mr Villepin's offices demanding an end to the CPE.
After an exchange of views with three smaller student groups, Mr Villepin said he wanted to "respond to the two major concerns of young people on the CPE" - which are the contract's two-year trial period, and the employers' free hand during that time to sack without explanation.
However the prime minister gave no indication he would drop the contract, which was passed by parliament two weeks ago and is now awaiting approval from the Constitutional Council - the state body that rules on the constitutionality of new laws.
Mr Villepin, 52, said the measure is a vital tool to open up the labour market and bring down France's chronically high rate of youth unemployment which is more than 50 per cent in the high-immigration suburbs hit by rioting in November.
There were growing fears those disturbances could reignite after police said most of Friday's violence in Paris was caused by youngsters from poor suburban housing estates. Gangs of masked youths smashed windows, set fire to cars and robbed students on the Invalides esplanade.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy warned that students are increasingly open to risk.
"I have to say in this matter I am very concerned. This has got to stop as soon as possible," he said.
Across the country some 60 out of 84 universities were closed or disrupted at the end of last week, as well as 600 out of 4300 lycees or secondary schools.
Laurence Parisot, head of the employers' organisation MEDEF, warned that the wave of protests was starting to damage the economy.
"The events are jeopardising our country's economy. They are jeopardising our image and reputation, and they are jeopardising the solidity of our social fabric," she said.
An opinion poll on Saturday showed that 66 per cent of the public want the CPE withdrawn.
SCREW THE FROGS!!!!!
"strikes and demonstrations"
Is that French for "riots"?
HA HA that most common sense comment about the French ROFL
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy warned that students are increasingly open to risk.
"I have to say in this matter I am very concerned. This has got to stop as soon as possible," he said
INCREDIBLE FRENCH LEADERSHIP.
No. TYPICAL French 'leadership'!
Makes one want to go visit and spend dollars there, uh?
Actually, makes me sorry I ever went there once...
Sorry place, even though is a beautiful country (runs by itself I guess, as there are no leaders).
I really woudn't worry about that one.
Let the damn place burn to the ground for all I care!
...why can't we be more like France?
How French of them.
Uhhh... I don't think that little economic detail is taught at French B-School courses.
They cover really relevent subjects like jobs/welfare for life, tantrum throwing, best spots to spend six-week vacations, etc.
Sacré bleu! 50% unemployment among immigrants? What happened to the socialist Utopian miracle? How could this enlightened society permit such a shameful lack of diversity in the workplace?
.
France is a beautiful country that the French do not deserve. I could say the same about the States.
'Black' is so 90s. Perhaps they should brace for a 'Swarthy Tuesday' or maybe a lazy-people-burning-things-because-they- are-no-longer-guaranteed-a-job-by-the-government-Tuesday or perhaps a Let's-just-give-them-money-and-hope-they-go-away-Tuesday, or possibly I-hope-no-one-thinks-we're-having-a-civil-war-Tuesday
The European, secular-socialist welfare state on parade.
What we see in France is EXACTLY what the Democrats want for America - - from "living wages", guaranteed employment, and socialized medicine, to paid leave from work and "free" college education for all, etc., etc., etc.
God save this nation if those sick scumbags ever regain significant political power.
In France it may as well be called "just another Tuesday".
only totalitarian socialism can successfully control the masses through terror.
Yes.
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