Mass Strike Ferment Expanding in France

PARIS, Dec. 16, 2019 (EIRNS)—Today is the 12th day of mass strike ferment in France, whose main thrust is to fight against the government’s attempt to ram through pension reform. In this fight, the two sectors spearheading the movement are transportation (buses, metros, trains, flights) and education. Since Dec. 5, four of the main transportation unions—General Confederation of Labor (CGT), Workers’ Front (FO), Combined Union Federation (FSU), Solidaires—joined by four student unions, have succeeded in blocking practically all transportation in Paris, as well as at the regional, national, and European levels.

In public education, badly threatened by the pension reform, the strike has been also very successful. In the kindergarten and primary schools, the rate of participation is reported by police to be at 51%, and by unions at 65%; and participation in secondary schools is 42-75%. Police and firefighters are also striking against the pension reform.

Now other forms of anti-austerity strikes and protests are joining the mass ferment. Some sectors are striking against the increase of energy prices under the press of “climate protection” laws. They include truck, ambulance and tax drivers. The truckers came into action today, and will be blocking several access points in Paris.

On Dec. 17, there will be a new national strike day, bringing in all sectors in addition to those against pension reform. It will demonstrate how the mass strike process is working: All striking sectors will converge in large demonstrations in Paris and elsewhere. The hospital workers will begin their own march at 11 a.m. and then join the larger demonstration in the early afternoon. They have been strong for several years in fighting against the shutdown of many facilities, which has cut medical care so badly that patients have died in emergency department hallways for lack of care.

The “Gilets Jaunes” (Yellow Vests) will also be participating in tomorrow’s strike.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe poured fuel on the fire Dec. 11, when he detailed the government reform point system. The pro-reform trade unions and the people at large would have liked the government to seize on the occasion to drop the reform. Philippe didn’t back off on anything. On the contrary, he confirmed that the government intends to extend retirement to age 64, while not calling it that. So the pro-reform unions, which had made the withdrawal of retirement extension the condition for their continued support for reform as a whole, en bloc turned their back on Philippe and his reform, and decided to immediately join the strike.