- Title: FRANCE: Nationwide strikes planned to test French government
- Date: 19th March 2009
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JANUARY 29, 2009) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATION
- Embargoed: 3rd April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: France
- Country: France
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA3TDO4NBHS6FNF6GDAL5RF0MZ7
- Story Text: France is getting ready for what is being hailed by unionists as Black Thursday, a nationwide general strike in response to the economic crisis and growing social inequalities in the country. It is expected to have even greater support than the general strike on January 29th this year, which saw more than two million people around France take to the streets.
According to union leader Rene Valladon, people are angry because of what they see as the unacceptable and growing gap between the rich and the poor. The government is not capable of responding to the problems of the workers and fails to take measures against the deepening crisis, he says, and thinks the workers growing anger of workers is a potential threat for the government.
"Look at the workers at Continental, they've made sacrifices, but a few months later they were told that they were betrayed, that their sacrifices were useless, and that the plant is closing, well, their anger is understandable," Valladon said.
Protests will also continue at the plants of Continental, GlaxoSmithKline, and Faurecia which saw violent protests over the past week.
Sacked Sony workers kept their managers in the plant overnight last week to demand more redundancy money, while workers at tyre maker Continental hurled eggs and insults at their bosses.
"I think people are right to complain and to say what they think and to take it to the streets," one Parisian resident said.
"It's better to fight now than to reach a point where we need to use violence in order to get what we want," said another.
Others hailed back to the historic events which followed public dissent around the storming of the Bastille:
"We need a new revolution just as in 1789. Maybe then we'll get some change."
The strike will affect mainly trains, but the demonstration is due to march from Place de la Republique to Place de la Nation - past the Bastille. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: Audio restrictions: This clip's Audio includes copyrighted material. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing the audio contained in this clip.