CPE
Coverage and analysis of the successful struggle against the French Contrat Première Embauche (Contract of First Employment) law, which would have permitted large employers to sack 18-26 year-old workers without notice, and without explanation.
Heavy sentences for four anti-CPE protestors
France: On Friday 10 November four people were jailed for their role in the struggle against the employment law the CPE.
On Friday 10th November four militants, Jean-Pascal, Reda, Valentin and Pierre-Louis were sentenced by the court in Aix-en-Provence. All four were accused of "rebellion" and "violence towards members of the police force in the performance of their duties" during events as part of the anti-CPE movement.
2006: The French movement against the CPE
libcom.org’s brief summary of the mass movement which swept France in early 2006 against the further casualisation of labour which forced the government into a humiliating defeat.
French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin unveiled his labour law liberalisation package the CPE (’first employment contract’) on 16th January. He said that “urgent” action was needed to “bring the French labour market into the modern era”. The law would see employers hire 18-26 year-olds on two year contracts that would allow them to fire the youths without notice, and without explanation.
Two weeks spent in Rennes
A first-hand and in-depth account of events in Rennes - one of the most militant towns - by a participant in the anti-CPE movement.
Sorbonne re-occupied on first day back
On Monday, students re-entered the Sorbonne for the first day since it was occupied in March against the now-repealed employment law the CPE.
Several hundred students from various French universities had voted to re-occupy it, and around 200 students occupied a conference room, but were escorted out by riot police later that day.
Behind the blockades
Visiting workers and students in France immediately following the government's withdrawal of the deeply unpopular CPE employment law, Ed Goddard looks at the potential for building a better society the struggle showed.
When analysing the state of the working class, it is up to those looking at it to observe and evaluate the tendencies working within it. By this we don’t mean, “how many people have joined the Marxist-Leninist Workers’ League?” or “how many people self-identify as anarchists?” but something a little more subtle than that.
CPE replacement measures criticised - the protests must go on
French anarchists claim that CPE replacement measures merely "give tax breaks to employers but do not deal with workers' rights" and protest should continue.
French group Alternative Libertaire stated:
Like 1968, but different... Similarities and contrasts with the anti-CPE struggle
Ed Goddard examines the recent movement in France against the CPE, compares it to the uprising in 1968 and looks at possibilities for the future.
The recent movement in France against the CPE have been a massive inspiration to militant workers the world over.
University strikes wind down
12 universities remain disturbed this afternoon (Friday), of which one is blocked (Toulouse II) and one is closed by the university on grounds of safety (Rennes II).
At the height of the anti-CPE rebellion, over 60 of France's 84 universities were occupied, on strike, or severely disrupted.
12 April: Unis split over strikes as CPE replacement passes through lower house
A quick round-up of news from Wednesday 12 April, including toll-free trains, sorting office blockade and the future of the university occupations.
-the law that will replace the CPE pass by lower house, Reuters report that "Chirac's ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party used their majority in the lower house to force through legislation that will replace the job contract with new measures offering employers cash incentives to hire young workers. It was adopted by 151 votes for to 93 against.
Montpellier students to vote on further blockades
Updates from university occupations in Toulouse and Montpellier following the withdrawal of the CPE.
The 20,000 students of Paul Valéry University have been called by the management department to vote for or against the release of the campus, as Jean-Marie Miossec, the president of the faculty, announced on Tuesday, 11th April. All access to the building accesses has been blocked by anti-CPE students since the 21st February.
