Subject: Re: France : Reduce Work Week To Create Jobs
From: pmargin-AT-xchange.apana.org.au (Profit Margin)
Date: Mon, 03 Jun 96 09:16:43 AEDT


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From: bghauk-AT-smooth.asgo.net (Brian Hauk)
Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Subject: France : Reduce Work Week To Create Jobs
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Date: 1 Jun 1996 20:29:46 GMT
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>from the Militant, vol.60/no.23                          June 10, 1996

BY NAT LONDON
   PARIS - "Massively reduce work time to create jobs," read 
the lead banner at the head of the May 23 union demonstration 
here. The banner expressed the theme of the national day of 
actions and demonstrations throughout France called by the French 
Confederation of Democratic Labor (CFDT) and supported by other 
unions, particularly the General Confederation of Labor (CGT). The 
CFDT calls for reducing the work week to 32 hours. The CGT calls 
for a 35 hour week with no cut in pay. The current work week is 39 
hours.
   The Paris demonstration drew more than 10,000 people in the 
middle of a working day. Workers in a number of shops took part in 
work stoppages so that they could demonstrate.
   The march was the first of a series of national actions 
called by different unions over the next few weeks. On May 29 
several independent unions including one of the teachers' unions, 
have called a national day of action and a demonstration in Paris.
   The next day there will be a demonstration of retired workers 
called by the retired workers' sections of four different trade 
union confederations.
   On June 4 the telecommunication workers of France Te'le'com 
will be out on a one-day national strike. France Te'le'com is a 
public service company that the government of Prime Minister Alain 
Juppe' has threatened to privatize. June 5 will be the turn of the 
gas and electric workers. A national strike called by three unions 
will include a national demonstration in Paris.
   The following day, June 6, will see a strike and national 
demonstration in Paris called by five of the federations of 
railway unions. The railroad workers were at the head of the 
massive workers upsurge that shook the French government last 
November and December.
   Workers in France continue to face attacks on social 
benefits, downsizing, and attempts to privatize public services. 
The government has announced new budget restrictions reducing the 
number of civil servants and blocking wage increases. 
   On May 22, 1,500 Alcatel workers from Germany, Italy, Spain, 
Belgium, and France participated in a Paris demonstration to 
protest planned cut backs. Alcatel's telecommunications equipment 
branch has announced plans to cut 40,000 of its 95,000 jobs in 
Europe. The lead banner read "European workers united for jobs."
   The same day another demonstration drew about 1,500 marchers 
to defend 300 undocumented workers who have been demanding regular 
immigration papers. The police expelled the immigrant workers from 
a church and a gymnasium they had occupied. Later, the CFDT 
railroad workers union invited the 300 immigrants and their 
families to move into an unoccupied rail freight warehouse in 
Paris. On May 23, the undocumented workers joined the 
demonstration for a shorter work week.

   Nat London is a member of the CGT at the Renault plant at 
Choisy-le-roi.


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** End of text from cdp:militant.news **



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