French Strikes

[CrazyHorse]

Huge crowds have taken to the streets in France to protest over the handling of the economic crisis, causing disruption to rail and air services.

The head of France's biggest union said a million workers had rallied to demand action to protect jobs and wages.

But despite the show of public support, the strike appeared to be falling short of the paralysis forecast by unions.

Regional trains and those in and around Paris were hit, and a third of flights from Orly airport were cancelled.

Forty per cent of regional services were running, train operator SNCF said, and 60% of high-speed TGV services. Three-quarters of metro trains were running in Paris.

Paris's second airport was heavily hit by the strike, but flights out of the larger Charles de Gaulle hub were experiencing only short delays, AFP news agency said.
Schools, banks, hospitals, post offices and courts were also hit as workers stayed at home. Officials said just over a third of teachers and a quarter of postal and power company workers were on strike.

Overall, some 23% of the country's public sector workers are thought to have joined the action, which was called by eight major French unions.

Bernard Thibault, head of the CGT union, told AFP more than a million workers had taken part in the strike, making it impossible for French President Nicolas Sarkozy to ignore their concerns.

In Paris, police said some 65,000 protesters had joined a march from the Place de la Bastille towards the centre of the city.

Earlier, some 25,000 to 30,000 people rallied in the city of Lyon, according to organisers and police.

[jimbo]

French strikes. At least that now explains where Puygrenier went in the second half last night!

[warthog]

I reckon Prufrock's started it.

[Verbal]

bloody hell, tis a big number. The General Strike in 1926 was about 1.5million and lasted ten days. How long will this one go on for?

Also, re warthog's comment: no wonder he hasn't posted today!

[Montreal Wanderer]

Frankly, in the biggest financial crisis since 1929 I would have thought one of the worst things to do would be to go on strike - it just doesn't seem helpful to solving anything.

[ratbert]

You've all got it wrong. The strike was to protest against Gary Megson's tactics in the second half against Blackburn.

[Verbal]

Frankly, in the biggest financial crisis since 1929 I would have thought one of the worst things to do would be to go on strike - it just doesn't seem helpful to solving anything.

Crippling financial climates do tend to bring out the revolutionary in some people.

[superjohnmcginlay]

Hardly revolutionary in France is it? I thought this was a weekly occurrence over there?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Frankly, in the biggest financial crisis since 1929 I would have thought one of the worst things to do would be to go on strike - it just doesn't seem helpful to solving anything.

We Brits prefer to tut and continue paying tax. To quote Stephen Colbert, "The financial crisis refuses to go away, no matter how much money we give to those who caused it."

(and if you factor in debt – personal and national – it's much worse than 1929)

[William the White]

bloody hell, tis a big number. The General Strike in 1926 was about 1.5million and lasted ten days. How long will this one go on for?

Also, re warthog's comment: no wonder he hasn't posted today!

About ten million at its height. More struck the day after the TUC called it off. some think the nearest the UK came to social revolution. Dream on, is my view...

[Soldier_Of_The_White_Army]

Oh no, the French are upset!


Quick, find me a large rock to hide behind!!!

[Verbal]

bloody hell, tis a big number. The General Strike in 1926 was about 1.5million and lasted ten days. How long will this one go on for?

Also, re warthog's comment: no wonder he hasn't posted today!

About ten million at its height. More struck the day after the TUC called it off. some think the nearest the UK came to social revolution. Dream on, is my view...

Fair enough...think I meant originally, but still a lot.

Apparently, all it took for them to back down was Lloyd George sitting at a table with them and say 'fine, do it, but you have to live with the consequences'...or words to that effect.

[Lord Kangana]

I'm in France, haven't noticed owt.

...but wish the British had the balls to do as much about problems facing them as your average Genouille.

[Verbal]

I'm in France, haven't noticed owt.

...but wish the British had the balls to do as much about problems facing them as your average Genouille.

Get back here and complain in writing, then.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I'm in France, haven't noticed owt.

...but wish the British had the balls to do as much about problems facing them as your average Genouille.

Oh yes, how I wish 25% of our public sector had the balls to stop working altogether in these troubled times.

[Bruce Rioja]

Frankly, in the biggest financial crisis since 1929 I would have thought one of the worst things to do would be to go on strike - it just doesn't seem helpful to solving anything.

Crippling financial climates do tend to bring out the revolutionary in some people.

Revolutionary? Come on Verbs. We're struggling so we'll withdraw our labour in protest? Simply imbecilic and thoroughly French.

[Prufrock]

I reckon Prufrock's started it.

Oi, the reason i haven't posted today was because I've been working (juicy irony).

Hmm, there is a strike in France literally every week, the morning papers always have little articles about this and that strike. This seems to be a fairly big one though. I'm not sure whether it's a good move. The sheer numbers involved mean it catches attention, and the French do love their street marches. On the other hand it does seem a bit counter productive, but possibly better to risk a few days of non production for a long term gain. Shall have to see how this pans out.

[Verbal]

Frankly, in the biggest financial crisis since 1929 I would have thought one of the worst things to do would be to go on strike - it just doesn't seem helpful to solving anything.

Crippling financial climates do tend to bring out the revolutionary in some people.

Revolutionary? Come on Verbs. We're struggling so we'll withdraw our labour in protest? Simply imbecilic and thoroughly French.

Okay, bad choice of word lefty/socialist do?

[Bruce Rioja]

Frankly, in the biggest financial crisis since 1929 I would have thought one of the worst things to do would be to go on strike - it just doesn't seem helpful to solving anything.

Crippling financial climates do tend to bring out the revolutionary in some people.

Revolutionary? Come on Verbs. We're struggling so we'll withdraw our labour in protest? Simply imbecilic and thoroughly French.

Okay, bad choice of word lefty/socialist do?

Stupide, je crois.

[William the White]

I'm in France, haven't noticed owt.

...but wish the British had the balls to do as much about problems facing them as your average Genouille.

Oh yes, how I wish 25% of our public sector had the balls to stop working altogether in these troubled times.

And in which times - presumably 'untroubled' - and under what circumstances would you support any percentage of public sector workers going on strike to defend their living standards, conditions of work, pensions or any other thing?

do tell...

i'm on the edge of my seat.