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.
Spontaneous demonstration by French school children
Students from three Lycees in Nantes (Guist'hau, Vial and Jules Verne) decided to carry out a collective action today.
A meeting was called for 2.30pm outside the former Palais de Justice. Around 1,000 people answered the call, including older students from the university. The action originally decided upon, a blockade of the main crossroads in the town, quickly transformed into a series of spontaneous demonstrations.
1 April: Latest CPE protest news
Updates from the CPE struggle in France, including a motorway blockade in Caen, demonstrations in Paris, new photos and more.
-Photos just in of a road blockade of the 'periph' (periphery in Caen, from Thursday 30th March. The blockade was eventually cleared by CRS riot police using water cannons and tear gas, and is represented here in 70 photos of the events.
New eyewitness accounts
Five days in Rennes
A report from one of our Paris correspondents, who spent the past five days in Rennes and took part in some of the anti-CPE protests there.
Rennes was interesting. I spent the last 5 days there, sampling the delights of the most militant, unified, unmediated resistance to the CPE in the country.
Report from demonstrations in Bordeaux
An eyewitness account from Bordeaux, where our correspondent Jay Taylor saw spontaneous marches through the streets after Chirac's speech last night.
On friday afternoon there were small groups of students roaming around town with loud hailers, handing out flyers asking people to attend the demonstration on Tuesday the 4th. Holding up placards at intersections asking people to hoot if they are against the CPE and CNE.
Latest on Cyril Ferez
Cyril Ferez was injured by police on Saturday 18th of March at a demonstration against CPE in Paris. He remains in a coma.
The Justice Pour Cyril website now carries a google English translation, and a large collection of video clips and freeze frame photos that appear to show postal worker and Sud-PTT member Ferez being attacked by police (see picture, above).
Chirac CPE speech in full
libcom.org presents a translation of President Jacques Chirac's CPE speech in full.
My dear compatriots,
For several weeks serious questions, fears and criticisms have been raised about the CPE. Many young people have expressed their disquiet, their need for stability and security, but also their desire to take a full part in our society. Feelings that many among you share.
Lyon and Marseille blockade updates
A report on student protests from Lyon II University, and an unconfirmed report of a student wounded by a car driver who drove into demonstrators in Marseille.
Thursday 30th March
Anti-CPE Movement: Embassy protest in Brazil
Leafletting and sit-down protest at the French embassy in Brazil. Photos from http://paris.indymedia.org/article.php3?id_article=56520
More spontaneous blockades
A round-up of some of yesterday's (31 March) school and office occupations and blockades of roads and railways against the CPE.
Late Friday night up to 10,000 were said to be still be in the streets after a protest at Chiracs announcement that he would promulgate the controversial CPE.
Round up of earlier events
Anti-CPE Movement: Paris, 31st March 2006 (c. 23h30)
Photos of anti-CPE riots on the night of 31st March 2006 around the Sacré Coeur area of Paris.
