Villepin on growing militancy of employees: "a revolutionary risk" emerging in France

[cyu]

Personally, I would encourage the taking of the means of production, rather than destroying the means of production, but at least it's better than bowing like slaves to the capitalist class.

Excerpts from http://pww.org/article/articleview/15324/

On Tuesday, a French court rejected a motion brought by employees of the factory, owned by Germany's Continental AG, to block the plant's planned 2010 closure.

Employees at the factory are steaming because in 2007 they agreed to a 40-hour working week, up from France's standard 35-hour week, on the understanding that the site would remain open until 2012.

Over 300 workers at the plant responded to Tuesday's ruling by smashing windows and destroying equipment at the factory and regional administrative offices in nearby Compiegne.

Most economists foresee a worsening of the economic situation in France this year, with forecasts of job losses ranging from 350,000 to one million.

"Boss-nappings" and other forms of militant direct action are on the increase.

In a radio interview on Sunday, former PM Dominique de Villepin spoke of "a revolutionary risk" emerging in France.

[Psy]

Personally, I would encourage the taking of the means of production, rather than destroying the means of production, but at least it's better than bowing like slaves to the capitalist class.

Yhea factory occupations are far better then smashing machines.

[STJ]

I love the French any time theres any of this bullshit going on they march.

[BIG BROTHER]

Yea obviously taking over would be better, but the workers must be really pissed....hopefully this anger will be channel into an actual occupation. And if anything the capitalist shouldn't complain they were gonna destroy that mean of production themselves anyways...

[bcbm]

Yhea factory occupations are far better then smashing machines.


We are not in the least afraid of ruins. We are going to inherit the earth; there is not the slightest doubt about that. The bourgeoisie might blast and ruin its own world before it leaves the stage of history. We carry a new world here, in our hearts, and that world is growing this minute.

Smash away.

[TheCultofAbeLincoln]

One thing I dislike about the American psyche is the consistent belief that the individual, all alone, is responsible for their economic well being and must bear the brunt of it.

I think this leads to an embarrassment to picket. People are embarrassed to say they've had it with the bullshit. Shit, they're embarrassed to tell their family they got laid off. We're not France.

There, it's the fault of the system.

Here, it's the fault of the individual.

I think this idea was born out of the post-war boom, it's anathema to the earlier labor cadres. Or maybe not, in The Grapes of Wrath for example you can see attitudes along the same lines, for example.

[Yazman]

One thing I dislike about the American psyche is the consistent belief that the individual, all alone, is responsible for their economic well being and must bear the brunt of it.

I think this leads to an embarrassment to picket. People are embarrassed to say they've had it with the bullshit. Shit, they're embarrassed to tell their family they got laid off. We're not France.

There, it's the fault of the system.

Here, it's the fault of the individual.

I think this idea was born out of the post-war boom, it's anathema to the earlier labor cadres. Or maybe not, in The Grapes of Wrath for example you can see attitudes along the same lines, for example.

I agree with this, Abe.

[Lynx]

Americans learn to expect little from their government. They also distrust it.

[Black_Flag]

Personally, I would encourage the taking of the means of production, rather than destroying the means of production, but at least it's better than bowing like slaves to the capitalist class.

True, but at least theyre doing something that shows theyre not just going to let this happen without a fight, and as Big_Brother say, hopefully this anger will be channeled into a perhaps, more productive form of direct action i.e. occupation.

[Glenn Beck]

I think it's a perfectly rational form of dissent. If they aren't going to benefit from that factory then make sure no-one else will. Just like striking, it's a way to make bad behavior risky for the capitalist.