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.
Today's demonstrations in Bordeaux
An eyewitness report of another anti-CPE demonstration from our correspondent in Bordeaux, Jay Taylor.
Today’s demonstration in Bordeaux was bigger than last Tuesday’s.
It was a fine spring day and the demo again gathered at the Place Tourny, with the cortege stretching along the Allees Tourny back to the Grand Theatre. Before the start of the march the mood was festive and more militant in the aftermath of Chirac’s speech on Friday night.
France: Protests take international turn
As the protests agains the First Employment Contract (CPE) continue in France, young workers and students across the world have begun to show support for the French movement or take similar action themselves.
http://libcom.org/blog has received reports from Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Brazil, the USA, New Zealand, Ireland and Turkey so far, with actions ranging from university occupations and school walkouts to protests against French consulates and businesses.
See also French version below.
3 April: Summary of events in France
Yesterday's protests in France included the occupation of the Eiffel Tower, a symbolic trial of Jacques Chirac and reports of fires at job centres and benefit offices in Paris and Toulouse.
Around 200 students occupied two legs of the Eiffel Tower, symbol par excellance of Paris, France, stopping access to the tourist site for nearly one hour before being dislodged. They then moved onto the Headquarters of the UMP but police presence repelled their plans for a symbolic occupation.
Anti-CPE Movement: Rennes, 4th April 2006
Photos from the day of action at Rennes, 4th April. Taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanou/
Anti-CPE Movement: Bordeaux, 4th April 2006
Photos of the April 4th 2006 demonstration against the CPE in Bordeaux. Photos by Jay Taylor for libcom.org. More from Jay Taylor at www.jayzerz.blogspot.com.
Anti-CPE Movement: Paris, 4th April 2006
Photos of the April 4th 2006 demonstration against the CPE in Paris. Photos from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cicilie/.
Anti-CPE Movement: Brest, 4th April 2006
Photos of the April 4th 2006 demonstration against the CPE in Brest.
Anti-CPE Movement: Marseille, 4th April 2006
Photos of the April 4th 2006 demonstration against the CPE in Paris. Photos from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cudmore/.
Le mouvement français prend une ampleur internationale
Alors que les mouvements de protestation contre le CPE se poursuivent en France, des étudiants et des jeunes travailleurs du monde entier ont commencé à faire preuve de leur soutien aux manifestants français et à organiser eux-mêmes des actions semblables.
http://libcom.org/blog a jusqu'ici reçu des compte-rendus de Suède, du Danemark, du Japon, du Brésil, des Etats-Unis, de Nouvelle-Zélande, d'Irelande, et de Turquie, témoignant d'actions qui s'étendent des grèves d'étudiants et des occupations d'universités à des manifestations pacifiques ou violentes contre des entreprises et consu
From the suburbs riots to the student movement - Henri Simon
An article by Henri Simon analysing the connection between the Banlieue riots of Autumn 2005 and the present movement against the CPE.
The article looks at the CNE/CPE within the context of international capital, and considers the potential for the movement to generalise beyond specific demands and sectors of society.
FROM THE SUBURBS RIOTS TO THE STUDENT MOVEMENT
Henri Simon
Preliminary remarks:
