Rennes

Two weeks spent in Rennes

libcom — Sat, 27 May 2006 10:29:07 +0000

University strikes wind down

alibi — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 11:57:35 +0000

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

alibi — Thu, 13 Apr 2006 01:03:18 +0000

-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?

alibi — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 22:44:15 +0000

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 — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 07:10:26 +0000

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

alibi — Sat, 08 Apr 2006 11:57:12 +0000

Ouest France in Brittany report from postal sorting office in Rennes:

6 April: Villepin makes major speech amidst mass transport blockades

alibi — Thu, 06 Apr 2006 12:34:10 +0000

- 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

alibi — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 21:09:02 +0000

22h00

Five days in Rennes

libcom — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 15:05:30 +0000

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.

More spontaneous blockades

alibi — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 23:55:53 +0000

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

CPE protests: Blockades across France

alibi — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 11:01:57 +0000

Latest Poll
62% of French 'united', or 'in solidarity' with the anti-CPE movement (LCI poll)

Groups of a hundred in moving blockades, Lille

CPE struggle: Roads blocked in Brittany

alibi — Wed, 29 Mar 2006 11:43:10 +0000

The three road blockades set up in Rennes were cleared at around 10am, on order of the CRS riot police, which at times used teargas. But the operation took place without confrontations according to the police force.

Thibault Boyer, vice-president of the UNEF to the board of directors of Rennes-II said that "its a symbolic blocking to show our determination against the CPE".

France in the streets: Largest demonstrations yet

alibi — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 11:00:04 +0000

Tuesday 28th of March - Summary

In tiny Hennebont, 300 high school students block bridge

alibi — Mon, 27 Mar 2006 15:06:59 +0000

This is just one example of the recent politicisation of French high school students.

300 students from the tiny medieval town of Hennebont, population just 13,000, were said to have been blocking the bridge from 3.30pm French time

Anger boils over: Rioting in Lille, Tours, Paris and Rennes

alibi — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 19:20:42 +0000

At Paris's Le Place de la Nation, the vast square where this afternoons demonstration had ended, hundreds of youths were caught in pitched battles with the CRS riot police. Rounds of tear gas were fired and at least one molotov cocktail was thrown at police. By around 7pm calm began to be restored to the area.

Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse protest against casualisation

alibi — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 13:49:05 +0000

Liberation gave marches in Lyon, Rennes and Toulouse the following figures:

Rennes
15,000 police estimate
35,000 organisers estimate

Lyon
11,000 police estimate
25,000 organisers estimate

Toulouse
22,000 police estimate
33,000 organisers estimate

Protesters invade Rennes train station

alibi — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 13:35:22 +0000

The people are opposed to new labour liberalisation law the CPE.

Half a million youths say no to the CPE

jef costello — Thu, 16 Mar 2006 01:26:13 +0000

In several cities, there were clashes with the police. The Prime Minister Domenique de Villepin claimed once again to be "open to dialogue within the framework fixed by the law to improve" the CPE. "I am very hopeful that this day will go well", he declared before announcing that on Friday evening he would receive the Conference of University Presidents (CPU) in Matignon.

100,000 on the streets in Brittany

Steven. — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 20:52:09 +0000

Numbers on demonstrations
Rennes: 20 000
Nantes: 30 000
Brest: 12 000
Quimper: 4000
Saint Brieuc : 12 000
Valves: 2500
Lorient: 6000
Saints-Nazaire: 4000
Chateaubriant: 400
Redon: 200
Ferns: 150
Dinan: 100
Glazed: 100
Pontivy: 1000
Saint Malo: 150

Students from Rennes stated: