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.
Deputies examine CPE replacement text as smaller demos continue
The deputies have this evening started to examine the private bill which replaces the CPE tonight.
Meanwhile, having obtained the withdrawal of the CPE, university and high-school students demonstrated calling for the abolition of the rest of the 'law of equal opportunities' which the CPE was a part of, and of the CNE contract which was introduced last September.
The anti-CPE struggle continues in France
The withdrawal of the CPE was announced today. This is a victory for the protesters, however the government still has the ability to strongarm similar legislation through and has not withdrawn the other parts of the new law package.
The "loi sur l'egalite des chances" of which the CPE was only a part, remains.
The alliance of unions that opposed the CPE has called for a continuation of the struggle as have many of the protesting groups. The CPE was the straw that broke the camel's back, but the reaction may well see all similar legislation withdrawn.
France: 'La Lutte' continues?
Demonstrations are planned for tomorrow as many universities maintain the pressure on the government, with some hoping for the extension of the struggle.
Many are calling for the abolition of the CNE contract as well, and others are holding out wary of promises made. Of 62 universities which are not on holiday, 25 were disturbed according to the ministry for the Education, including five completely blocked.
More demonstrations have also been occuring across the country:
Paris
CPE scrapped
A more detailed look at the withdrawal of the new French employment law CPE with latest updates.
Latest
Our Montpellier correspondent reacts to the withdrawal and summarises events there this past week.
Montpellier - reaction to the withdrawal, and events this week
Our correspondent in Montpellier reacts to the withdrawal of the CPE and gives a run down of events there this past week.
So Chirac's withdrawn the CPE?
A victory for the anti-CPE movement, but will it end there?
Our correspondent in Bordeaux, Jay Taylor, reacts to the news that the CPE has been withdrawn.
Today is a victory for the anti-CPE movement. This has been a single issue campaign around the CPE and the major players can stand down now and save a degree of face. However, the CNE still remains on the books, there is a regressive Immigration bill in the works and an extreme law focusing on digital copyrights (a.k.a. the Vivendi law) lurking in the background.
France: CPE withdrawn
It was announced that the new ‘first employment contract’ (Contrat première embauche, or CPE) has been withdrawn in the face of mass protest.
The law, which removes job security from workers under 26, has been subject to mass opposition which we at libcom.org have been covering in detail in recent weeks.
Responses and analysis will follow shortly.
France: CPE employment law scrapped after mass protests
Following weeks of mass protest which have swept the country Jacques Chirac has announced the replacement of the CPE with a device in favour of getting disadvantaged young people into work.
THE RESPONSES:
* “A historical victory after a historical mobilisation”, said the president of the UNL Karl Stoeckel.
* François Chérèque of the CFDT trade union believes that “the objective is achieved”.
* Bruno Julliard of student union UNEF now looks to “Maintain the pressure” after this “first victory”.
EARLIER TODAY
Interview with an eyewitness from Rennes
libcom.org interviews 'vanou' a student from Rennes who has been photographing the protests against the CPE up close, including from her apartment balcony.
For a different view of the struggle in Rennes, see our report "Five Days in Rennes" from 1st April.
Over the past couple of weeks libcom.org/blog has been sourcing photos of the events from various French indymedias and directly from people on the ground in France to accompany our news coverage of the event.
Announcements to be made Monday as the right seek to end crisis
The government should outline an exit with the crisis of the CPE tomorrow (Monday).
At 9am CET, after a private conversation between the President and his Prime Minister, a meeting will be held at Chirac's official residence, the Elysée.
