Rennes
2005-06 The rebellion of young proletarians in France - interview
Three years on, Greek communist group Blaumachen interviews Jeanneneton, a participant in the movement against the labour liberalisation law CPE.
The following interview with the French comrade Jeanneneton took place in the summer of 2007. It has been included in the 3rd issue of ‘Blaumachen’, published in Greece in June 2009.
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.
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.
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
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.
Rennes postal workers take short strike action in solidarity with blockades
Postal workers take short wildcat strike action in support of sorting office-occupying anti-CPE demonstrators.
Ouest France in Brittany report from postal sorting office in Rennes:
6 April: Villepin makes major speech amidst mass transport blockades
A round-up of news from the anti-CPE struggle in France, including Villepin's speech and responses, and the transport blockades across the country.
- Four student demonstrators and one policeman were injured on Thurday, the 6th April. At the end of the aftermoon, the police force removed some 450 students who were blocking the railways on the North Matabiau station and stopped traffic for an hour and half. According to the local authority, the five injured people were transferred to the hospital.
4 April: CPE protest live updates
Hour-by-hour coverage of the day of strikes, demonstrations and further blockades and occupations across France against the new employment law.
22h00
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.
