Strikes Paralyze France

[Communist]

.
Strikes Paralyze France

Sarkozy's government forging ahead with
reforms despite strikes, electoral defeat
(http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/783993--strikes-paralyze-france)
by Elaine Ganley
Toronto Star
March 23, 2010
PARIS

President Nicolas Sarkozy's government vowed Tuesday to stay
on track with belt-tightening reforms meant to modernize
France's economy, despite nationwide strikes and a
blistering weekend electoral defeat.

Trains, schools and other public services were hobbled by
the strike, culminating in around 180 protest marches around
France, according to the CGT union. The biggest one was
expected in Paris, where police said 31,000 turned out
Tuesday afternoon.

The CGT union put the number at 60,000 and said 650,000
demonstrated around France.

Unions hoped their joint action would put the brakes on
retirement reforms and public sector job cuts promised by
Sarkozy, who has made making France's economy more globally
competitive his priority. Unions say Sarkozy has failed
workers, slashing jobs, particularly in education,
puncturing purchasing power and now plans to attack the
precious but costly pension system.

Polls show barely one in three French want Sarkozy to run
for a second term in 2012. Yet, the government response was
defiant.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon told parliamentarians the
changes were needed, and would continue despite the
disastrous showing in Sunday's regional elections for the
governing conservative party UMP.

"We will not compromise the need to modernize our country,"
Fillon said without flinching. "Our duty is to adapt our
economic and social organization to protect the French way
of life."

He said France would continue to reduce the number of civil
servants, the largest employment roll, by not replacing one
employee in two who retires or quits.

The brand new labour minister, Eric Woerth, vowed to move
ahead with reforming the "extremely fragile" pension system
- the most critical change expected, and Sarkozy's biggest
political challenge this year.

"We must maintain the goal which is that of reform. The
nation needs to be competitive, to (create) the jobs of
tomorrow," Woerth said, a day after his appointment in a
government reshuffle to account for Sunday's election
result.

The UMP lost all but three of 26 regions to the Socialists
and their ecology allies in the vote.

Sarkozy fired his labour minister, Xavier Darcos, as a
result and brought in ministers from various tendencies
within the conservative movement, itself divided over
Sarkozy's policies.

An ally of former President Jacques Chirac, Francois Baroin,
replaced Woerth as budget minister. An ally of former Prime
Minister Dominique de Villepin, expected to launch his own
party Thursday, was also added to the government, lawmaker
Georges Tron, as junior minister for civil service.

Francois Chereque, head of the CFDT union, said the Cabinet
changes were a "bad sign about the government's social
commitment.

"They zap the labour minister as if it were a technical
ministry with less importance," he said on France-Inter
radio, noting that France has its fourth labour minister
since Sarkozy took office in 2007.

In another concession to Sarkozy's conservative base, the
government plans to suspend an expected law to tax carbon
dioxide emissions, leading UMP legislator Jean- Francois
Cope said Tuesday.

The carbon tax had been a central plank of Sarkozy's push
for a more prominent role in the global fight against
climate change. But it was criticized within Sarkozy's own
party, with many arguing it would disadvantage French
companies compared to European rivals.

In Tuesday's strike, the French capital saw only minimal
disruptions to the subway system, and fast trains to Britain
and Belgium ran normally. But only 65 per cent of train
traffic was guaranteed within France.

An estimated 30 per cent of primary school teachers failed
to show up for class nationwide, the Education Ministry
said, with around 18 per cent out in junior high schools and
11 per cent out in high schools.

Nearly 16 per cent of employees of the Finance Ministry also
skipped work and a full 37.5 per cent were no- shows at the
Budget Ministry, according to midday estimates by the Labor
Ministry.

.

[Jacobinist]

Unions in France are awesome; the french are a small step away (or more like one charismatc leader away) from developing anarcho-syndicalism.

Unions in America should heed note and perform copycat moves here, but no. Unions in America, AFL-CIO/Teamsters/etc, are part of the establishment, apart of the kapitalist rigged system.

VIVE FRANCE!

[AK]

May 1968. I love the French working class :wub:

[Buffalo Souljah]

Ah, ze French.

[Axle]

That's how its done!

[danyboy27]

i am somehow pessimistic, strikes like that have been happening since decades and the system dosnt change.

sure it make the governement affraid and force him to keep social services functionnal, but at the end, nothing really change and the bourgeois are still in power.

[Jacobinist]

Funny, no Stalinsts are calling Trot unions in France fascist? Hmmmm

[bailey_187]

Funny, no Stalinsts are calling Trot unions in France fascist? Hmmmm

the GCT is trotskyist?

Seriously, your wild hatred of "stalinism" is now just trolling. Workers are striking and all you can do is write this bullshit? Stalin and Trotsky have fuck all to do with this.

[Jacobinist]

Its just that I see above known stalinsts celebrating the French. Stalin would have sent the Cheka to check these union bastards!

Lolz.

[Jacobinist]

"the GCT is trotskyist? the GCT is trotskyist?" - Bailey

I think you mean the CGT.

Yes, http://books.google.com/books?id=_eUtQjseKaIC&pg=PA378&lpg=PA378&dq=CGT+trotskyist&source=bl&ots=AdSUUZ6POF&sig=CkO10loYt-UcaCBE6SpfWw18sIo&hl=en&ei=VmeqS8fjNZLYsgPckZnhBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=CGT%20trotskyist&f=false

And Yup. http://libcom.org/history/1895-1921-the-cgt-france


Are your fellow Stalinists now going to come out and blast the CGT, after having praised it above? It sure would be typical Stalinist tactics.

[Wanted Man]

Funny, no Stalinsts are calling Trot unions in France fascist? Hmmmm

What "Trot unions"? Neither of your links even prove that. The first link is about the PCI, which was apparently a French trotskyist party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internationalist_Communist_Party). The chapter goes on to discuss their difficulties working with the CGT at the time. The article in the second link does not even contain any words beginning with "trot". :rolleyes:

The CGT is, of course, historically linked to the PCF (i.e. the "stalinists"), although not as strongly or officially over the last couple decades.

Some trotskyists in the late 40s and early 50s, after being expelled from the CGT, joined the FO (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Force_Ouvri%C3%A8re), a reformist breakaway that was founded with CIA support, as did some anarchists. A trotskyist source on this:


The Communist Party left the government coalition. In November-December 1947 the CP launched a big strike wave, but pretty much as a political gambit to counter the harder attitude De Gaulle and the bourgeois parties were taking to the CP with the development of the Cold War.

The right wing in the CGT, with CIA backing — and a fair number of left-wingers, too, including anarcho-syndicalists — split from the CGT to form a new confederation, Force Ouvrière.


For a while, activity with the “Titoites” — supporters of the Tito regime in Yugoslavia, which had fallen out with Stalin in summer 1948 — appeared to offer the PCI a way out. Like many Trotskyists, Lambert had been expelled from the CGT in 1950. He started work in Force Ouvrière, and, helped by funds from the Yugoslav embassy, was able to start a newsletter advocating trade-union unity on a democratic basis. The PCI also organised some 3000 volunteers to go to Yugoslavia in work brigades.

But all that was based on gross illusions about the nature of the Tito regime; ended embarrassedly when Tito backed the USA in the Korean war; and anyway brought the PCI little profit.

http://trotskyist.blogspot.com/2008/02/lambertists.html

No doubt, this is part of principled trotskyist internationalism. "Lolz."

Some slightly related archival news from those heady days when brave CIA agents fought those bloody stalinists in true internationalist spirit: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,816103-1,00.html

As for events today, obviously the strike in France is deserving of support. Lolz.

[#FF0000]

"the GCT is trotskyist? the GCT is trotskyist?" - Bailey

I think you mean the CGT.

Yes, http://books.google.com/books?id=_eUtQjseKaIC&pg=PA378&lpg=PA378&dq=CGT+trotskyist&source=bl&ots=AdSUUZ6POF&sig=CkO10loYt-UcaCBE6SpfWw18sIo&hl=en&ei=VmeqS8fjNZLYsgPckZnhBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CAYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=CGT%20trotskyist&f=false

And Yup. http://libcom.org/history/1895-1921-the-cgt-france


Are your fellow Stalinists now going to come out and blast the CGT, after having praised it above? It sure would be typical Stalinist tactics.

Please, please stop.

[#FF0000]

i am somehow pessimistic, strikes like that have been happening since decades and the system dosnt change.

sure it make the governement affraid and force him to keep social services functionnal, but at the end, nothing really change and the bourgeois are still in power.

Progress is slow, and revolutionary change kind of sneaks up on you, I think.

[Red Commissar]

It is better to keep going on strike rather than lie dormant like the US unions.

I know this is a mainstream news source, but it is somewhat relevant to the thread,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/matthewprice/2008/10/22/index.html


I remember a journey I did with a truck driver once, from Nebraska to LA. We were discussing the hard life a truck driver has in this country, how the hours are long, the pay not good, the conditions bad.

Why do you put up with it, I wondered? "Well we couldn't do like the French do, blocking the roads, that just wouldn't be American," he replied.

I told him how I imagined the French drivers have better holiday entitlements, how they have perhaps better pay, and the like.

He snorted, but the next day he came back to me on it. He'd spoken to his union rep, and he'd been told that indeed the French do have better working conditions. He said he'd have to think about it a bit more.

I wonder if in the US people have been told for so long that individuals make their own success, that everyone can live the American Dream if they (personally) work hard enough, that they have become selfish as a society?

[Jacobinist]

"What "Trot unions"? Neither of your links even prove that. The first link is about the PCI, which was apparently a French trotskyist party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interna...ommunist_Party (http://www.anonym.to/?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internationalist_Communist_Party)). The chapter goes on to discuss their difficulties working with the CGT at the time. The article in the second link does not even contain any words beginning with "trot". :rolleyes: " - Wanted

You didnt even read them! How can you read them (esp. the second link) and come away that it's not trot related???:rolleyes:

It was my fault for not stating, 'was,' past tense.

[Wanted Man]

The second link is about anarchist influences until just after the First World War. Perhaps I should remind you that anarchism is not the same as trotskyism, and that the First World War is a long time ago.

Your fault? You're just back-pedalling now. You suggested that "stalinists" would not support the CGT because it is a "trot union". You were wrong, and you know it, so you have to make up some bullshit excuse.

Of course, if it used to be a "trot union" (1. it wasn't. 2. there are no significant "trot unions" anywhere in the world, quite a few "stalinist" ones though) but isn't anymore, then why should they not be supported? Seems to me you're just making shit up like your average little troll. LOLZ.

[danyboy27]

Progress is slow, and revolutionary change kind of sneaks up on you, I think.
i know but ultimatelty, what unions want is money, not controlling the mean of productions.

its the way those organisation evolved where i live anyway.

During a recent interview, the head of one of the biggest union in quebec the CSN, refused to even consider the possibility of giving the control of hospital to workers by transforming them into cooperatives.

[Jacobinist]

"anarchist influences until just after the First World War. Perhaps I should remind you that anarchism is not the same as trotskyism, and that the First World War is a long time ago.' - Wanted

Well thats new! A Stalinist who doesnt see anarchists/trots as in the same boat. I'll concede here, but here on Revleft, its too easy to get use to bad habits.

"You suggested that "stalinists" would not support the CGT because it is a "trot union". You were wrong, and you know it, so you have to make up some bullshit excuse." - Wanted

And thats true, at least for a true hardline Stalinist.



"Of course, if it used to be a "trot union"" - Wanted
It was, look it genius. Now you're dismissing facts like a good little Stalinist looking out fer daddie. :wub:

[#FF0000]

"anarchist influences until just after the First World War. Perhaps I should remind you that anarchism is not the same as trotskyism, and that the First World War is a long time ago.' - Wanted

Well thats new! A Stalinist who doesnt see anarchists/trots as in the same boat. I'll concede here, but here on Revleft, its too easy to get use to bad habits.

"You suggested that "stalinists" would not support the CGT because it is a "trot union". You were wrong, and you know it, so you have to make up some bullshit excuse." - Wanted

And thats true, at least for a true hardline Stalinist.



"Of course, if it used to be a "trot union"" - Wanted
It was, look it genius. Now you're dismissing facts like a good little Stalinist looking out fer daddie. :wub:

Will you please stop threadshitting. This is a verbal warning.

[Jacobinist]

"Will you please stop threadshitting. This is a verbal warning." - LOVE

What? Threadshitting? What is that?

I hope you're silencing dissent.

[#FF0000]

"Will you please stop threadshitting. This is a verbal warning." - LOVE

What? Threadshitting? What is that?

I hope you're silencing dissent.

You're kind of driving this thread off topic with really, really dumb sectarian bullshit.

And I sympathize rather strongly with the communist left so no it's not a political thing.

[Jacobinist]

"You're kind of driving this thread off topic with really, really dumb sectarian bullshit." - Love

Fair enough, Im glad the moderators are fair and balanced :rolleyes:

[AK]

Its just that I see above known stalinsts celebrating the French. Stalin would have sent the Cheka to check these union bastards!

Lolz.
Shut up will you, the Soviet Union is dead and gone. Instead of what appears to be mindless sectarianism and trolling you could focus on the workers struggle going on in France.


"You're kind of driving this thread off topic with really, really dumb sectarian bullshit." - Love

Fair enough, Im glad the moderators are fair and balanced :rolleyes:
Maybe it's because they got it right...

Now contribute meaningfully to this thread or suffer as I laugh in sadistic pleasure at your inevitable banning.

[Bilan]

"You're kind of driving this thread off topic with really, really dumb sectarian bullshit." - Love

Fair enough, Im glad the moderators are fair and balanced :rolleyes:

Loveschach aint no Stalinist and he's not being biased. Come on now.

However, I have to agree, the posts you're making are largely conjecture. You're free to criticise other tendencies, however, pick your threads and keep it relevant (and substantiated).

[Andropov]

Unions in France are awesome; the french are a small step away (or more like one charismatc leader away) from developing anarcho-syndicalism.

Unions in America should heed note and perform copycat moves here, but no. Unions in America, AFL-CIO/Teamsters/etc, are part of the establishment, apart of the kapitalist rigged system.

VIVE FRANCE!
I was away from this forum for too long but its good to see the standard of poster has increased in my absence.
Jacobinist seriously, get a grip of reality, what in blue fuck is this "the french are a small step away (or more like one charismatc leader away) from developing anarcho-syndicalism"?
Your just embaressing yourself.
Not to mention your "stalinist" rampages, bizarre, just bizarre, trendy leftism at its finest.

[Wakizashi the Bolshevik]

Its just that I see above known stalinsts celebrating the French. Stalin would have sent the Cheka to check these union bastards!

Lolz.
Err... no he wouldn't.

[RadioRaheem84]

Damn, the French working class is fucking awesome. :lol:

The level of conscience there is pretty amazing. The US would be just like this if the right wing hand of propaganda didn't shield their eyes so much.

[RadioRaheem84]

Jacobinist seriously, get a grip of reality, what in blue fuck is this "the french are a small step away (or more like one charismatc leader away) from developing anarcho-syndicalism"?
Your just embaressing yourself.


Yeah, I don't get this either. Did I miss something about the French unions? Anarcho-syndicalism?

[RadioRaheem84]

"We will not compromise the need to modernize our country,"
Fillon said without flinching. "Our duty is to adapt our
economic and social organization to protect the French way
of life."



This sounds extremely American.

[Jacobinist]

I was away from this forum for too long but its good to see the standard of poster has increased in my absence.
Jacobinist seriously, get a grip of reality, what in blue fuck is this "the french are a small step away (or more like one charismatc leader away) from developing anarcho-syndicalism"?
Your just embaressing yourself.
Not to mention your "stalinist" rampages, bizarre, just bizarre, trendy leftism at its finest.

Trendy leftism? Trendy leftism is upheld by leftist who are uncritical of the mistakes made in the past. If you disagree that the french are much more organized and serious about politics, then you are an idiot. And as mentioned above, where are the US unions, and what are they doing?

Twiddling their thumbs.

[RadioRaheem84]

Do you mind explaining the Anarcho-Syndicalim comment though?

[Jacobinist]

Do you mind explaining the Anarcho-Syndicalim comment though?

Anarcho syncalism requires strong, activist, political unions not afraid to confront the government. France has such unions.

What kind of unions does the US have? When was the last time the AFL-CIO called a general strike to protest the war in Iraq? (French unions did back in 03). What I'm saying is that, french unions are much further down the path to anarcho-syncalism than the corporate American unions ever will be.

[RadioRaheem84]

I don't disagree that our unions have been co-opted into the establishment and that they're weak in comparison to French and other European unions, but closer to Anarcho-Syndicalism? Are they close to direct action and taking over the industries for the workers?

[Jacobinist]

I don't disagree that our unions have been co-opted into the establishment and that they're weak in comparison to French and other European unions, but closer to Anarcho-Syndicalism? Are they close to direct action and taking over the industries for the workers?

If you agree that French unions are activist. If you agree that French unions dont follow government policy. If you agree that French proltariat is years ahead of the American proletariat (who currently thinks Obama is part of some undercover Marxist plot). Than you've answered your own qustions.

Are they not closer?

[GreenCommunism]

During a recent interview, the head of one of the biggest union in quebec the CSN, refused to even consider the possibility of giving the control of hospital to workers by transforming them into cooperatives.

i don't understand that one, healthcare is public in canada. would that mean cutting off from the government and taxe and eventually make the user pay for their healthcare? i'm not criticizing i just want to understand.

[Bilan]

If you agree that French unions are activist. If you agree that French unions dont follow government policy. If you agree that French proltariat is years ahead of the American proletariat (who currently thinks Obama is part of some undercover Marxist plot). Than you've answered your own qustions.

Are they not closer?


Look up "May 68" and find out the role the Unions played in the french uprising.
Same unions.
The French unions have a stronger tradition of militancy than those in the US (That is, they have maintained their militancy), but they're far from being anarcho-syndicalist.

[Jacobinist]

Look up "May 68" and find out the role the Unions played in the french uprising.
Same unions.
The French unions have a stronger tradition of militancy than those in the US (That is, they have maintained their militancy), but they're far from being anarcho-syndicalist.


Fair enough, but they are much further down that path than any union in the US. Awesome event that of May 68. Thats a good example of unions as a political force in todays society.

[danyboy27]

i don't understand that one, healthcare is public in canada. would that mean cutting off from the government and taxe and eventually make the user pay for their healthcare? i'm not criticizing i just want to understand.

not really, this coperative would receive fund from the governement to operate it, Gestion and management would be up to the cooperative members. Right now, the system is failling, mainly beccause of high bureaucratic cost. In the main hospital of my city, the priest is paid around 90 000 a year, and received a bonus from the hospital administration. The bureaucratic structure is clogged, and cost us probably billion of dollard a year in prime and sub-prime given to many bureaucrat who already receive high pay, from 100 to 300 000 dollars a years, and those guy are not even administrator.

We got the doctor, we got the room, but beccause of all that money wasted we FORCE doctor to stay at home and close whole hospital wings, you can wait at the ER for 6 hour with a broken limb.

our health system used to be great, but those fucking bureaucrat ruined it.
Now, instead of revising the structure, some politicians talk about increasing the private sector.

with Cooperatives, Management would be better, but on the other hand, that would mean the Union will have to go.

And since Union are litteraly corporations, they dont want to loose their profits, and for them 10 000 less member mean million dollars less a year.

[RadioRaheem84]

What makes the French unions so militant besides the obvious protests featured in the news every year or so? What are their activities all about? Their organizational structure, their demands, their political and economic outlook, where workers should be and what rights they demand for their workers?

Are they militant in the promotion of maintaining the status quo, i.e. social democracy, welfare state, or are they radical in promoting more social change?

[danyboy27]

What makes the French unions so militant besides the obvious protests featured in the news every year or so? What are their activities all about? Their organizational structure, their demands, their political and economic outlook, where workers should be and what rights they demand for their workers?

Are they militant in the promotion of maintaining the status quo, i.e. social democracy, welfare state, or are they radical in promoting more social change?
from my understanding and from the understanding of some french national my sister know well, mostr of the unions dont want the end of capitalism at all.

they shout and protest beccauser they know their bosses will cut some of their salary, all they want is to have it back, they dont care if they are being used by the bosses who live in castle, all they want is their money.

I am not familiar with the Union from france, but where i live, those organisation have investments in banks, lobby political party for lucrative contracts and really dont care about worker control of mean of productions.

[Jacobinist]

What makes the French unions so militant besides the obvious protests featured in the news every year or so? What are their activities all about? Their organizational structure, their demands, their political and economic outlook, where workers should be and what rights they demand for their workers?

Are they militant in the promotion of maintaining the status quo, i.e. social democracy, welfare state, or are they radical in promoting more social change?

These unions dont just organize and hold protests. They hold general strikes, are highly political and mobilized. Many can trace their roots back to the turn of the previous century when being radical was much more in vogue. While many of them are no longer revolutionary, they are militant; putting members on the streets not only for member concerns but also for political purposes and nearly brought the economy to the brink of collapse in May of 68. The top 5 unions are considered by the French govt as 'negotiating partners.' Acknowledgement by the government they cannot simply over rule the unions wishes/demands.

Some unions are more radical than take for example the CGT. There is the OCL and CNT-F for example.

[Saorsa]

The unions, in particular the 'Communist' Party unions, actively sabotaged, undermined and eventually helped to destroy the people's movement in 1968. You should read some history about what took place Jacobin.

[Bilan]

Enough. You two (Andropov and Jacobinist) are clogging up the thread with your incessant need to bicker.
Do it again and infractions will follow.

[Boru]

I doubt the French unions are near to what anyone has described here..

Yes, they're militant, but far from going revolutionary on us.
Factory occupations and reclaimations are as far as they'd go themselves, politically speaking, I'd reckon they'd leave it to the PCF and the PS to team up on the Right.

That is probably the case at present, however, the next Presidential and legislative elections are in 2012, a lot can happen between now and then in terms of direct action, whereas nothing good can happen in terms of political action by either the PCF or the PS.