Sunday 26 September 2010

New momentum for French resistance


FRENCH resistance to neoliberal ''austerity' measures is gaining new momentum.

Reports Reuters: "French labour unions, heartened by large street marches against pension reform, agreed on Friday to call for another protest on Saturday Oct. 2 and a follow-up day of strikes and protests on Tuesday Oct. 12.

"The move, announced in a statement after union leaders met in Paris, raises the stakes in a showdown with President Nicolas Sarkozy before a pension reform bill that would raise the retirement age to 62 from 60 is debated on Oct. 5 in the upper house. The government continues to rule out any retreat on the plans.

"Between one and three million people took to the streets across the country on Thursday to denounce Sarkozy's pension plans. The turnout was 2.9-3 million according to unions and 997,000 according to police."