Miss Kolka

PRODUCING IN PARIS

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Is striking the only way? | 13 novembre 2007

The french prepare to strike, yet again. This transport strike is expected to last,
however it is very unlikely that the government will give in to the strikers' demand - this being the first real test for the government of Nicolas Sarkozy (normally you say the government of the prime minister - except that here the PM seems to be completely lost next to the hyper-president). They argue these Pensions reforms were electoral promisses and that the majority of the country has approved them with the election of the president and his government. The most debated point of the reform is that everyone has to work for 40 years before being able to retire. Until now many had "special deals" like train drivers that could retire around 50 years old due to the hard aspect of their job - but these deals were negotiated just after the second world war or even in the time of king Louis fourteen. Now the trend is to make everyone work the same time- regardless from the differences the hours worked or the diffuculties linked to the tasks. Unions claim that these can not be reformed because the workers chose the jobs because of the benefits offered. And now students are joining the striking force.

So the only way this strike doesn't last for days or even weeks is for the unions and the government to decide they have something they can negociate over... or that they want to negociate, not always easy.

Meanwhile thousands of people will be stranded all over - and having difficulties getting to and from work. Thankfully my bike is not on a strike...yet

Publié par Kolka à 21:03:43 dans Miss Kolka | Commentaires (0) | Permaliens