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.
Gare de Lyon blockade - photos
Photos from todays two hour long blockade of the Gare de Lyon train station in central Paris.
Anti-CPE Movement: Bastille, 31st March 2006 (c. 21h)
Photos later on in the evening from the earlier demonstration at the Bastille on March 31st 2006, when anti-CPE demonstrators clashed with police. Photos from http://thibautcho.free.fr/.
Spontaneous demonstrations against Chirac
Several thousand people took part in demonstrations in Paris to protest against the promulgation of the CPE.
The CPE (First Employment Contract) was announced earlier today by President Jacques Chirac, the principal target of the demonstrators.
Anti-CPE Movement: Bastille, 31st March 2006 (c. 19h30)
Photos of the March 31st 2006 demonstration against the CPE at the Bastille, in Paris. Photos from http://thibautcho.free.fr/.
Chirac speaks as students gather across France
Latest news on President Jacques Chirac's speech to the nation on the CPE, and responses to it.
Update: A full text of the speech has been translated here.
22h32
Force Ouvrier have said that the five main trade unions shall meet again on April 5th, after the day of strikes and protests on April 4th.
Anti-CPE Movement: Bastille, 31st March 2006 (c. 16h)
Photos of the blocking of the Bastille around 4pm by high-school pupils. Photos from: http://thibautcho.free.fr/
31 March: Summary of today's events
Today's latest developments in the struggle against the new French employment law the CPE.
-Socialist MP François Holland warns Jacques Chirac that in his broadcast tonight, sticking with the CPE would open "a major crisis"
-"the fever mounts" writes Le Parisian after yesterdays day of blockings by high-school pupils, and the constitutional Council Decision to validate the CPE
Cyril Ferez still comatose
Liberation is reporting that Cyril Ferez, the postal worker injured in the Place de la Nation in Paris on the demonstration of March 18th, remains in a coma.
Cyril is a member of the SUD-PTT union.
The latest medical bulletin states that “there is a progressive improvement in his neurological conditions” but that “he is showing secondary signs of lung infections”.
More on the case of Cyril Ferez here.
Financial Times: French unrest affecting consumer confidence
The Financial Times is attributing the fall in French consumer sentiment on the protests raging over the government's proposed youth employment law.
Analysts are blaming the anti-CPE movement as INSEE, the national statistics bureau, reports that its gauge of consumer confidence fell from minus 24 in February to minus 26 in March...
Workers take protest to Parisian theatre
At 18.00 yesterday, a group of cultural, temporary workers, students and “Precaires” (workers in precarious or casual labour), penetrated the prestigious Chaillot National Theatre.
Newspaper Liberation reported the events occured at the Trocadero, in the chic 16th arrondissement of Paris for an indefinite occupation.
