Forwarded message: The unemployed in France are demonstrating for better benefits but also for more jobs. The reduction in working time is a major demand. The Jospin government has announced immediate measures to reduce the legal work week from 39 to 35 hours within the next two years. The unemployed want more radical work time decreases without any loss of benefit. For those who can understand French there is a forum like this one which informs by the minute (almost) of the occupations and other manifestations in different cities. There is a web site in the USA but not a lot has been translated. http://altern.org/antenneassedic François Aubry Montréal -----Message d'origine----- De : LabourNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> À : [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date : 23 janvier, 1998 20:18 Objet : Re: Report on unemployed actions in France François, This was the only report I was able to get. I would be happy if you or anyone else from France can provide any corrections that are necessary. This important action in France needs publicising around the world, but it has been very difficult to get reports. Chris Bailey LabourNet *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 1/23/98, at 6:17 PM, François Aubry?ð wrote: >What happenned to the demand for a radical reduction in work time in order >to create jobs? > >Qu'est devenue la revendication pour la réduction du temps de travail? > > >-----Message d'origine----- >De : LabourNet <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >À : [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date : 23 janvier, 1998 15:45 >Objet : Report on unemployed actions in France > > >Paris 20/1/98 > >We are trying to put together a sort of resume of actions throughout >France -type of actions, location, slogans, groups involved, police >reactions - but we are living from day to day, an ever-changing >reality. This movement has developed and changed in reaction to the >Jospin government and police behaviour. Why do the unemployed no >longer occupy job centres - because the police kicked them out so the >next battleground became those institutions where the unemployed go >to demand help (benefits centres, i.e. the centre d'aide sociale) and >now chambers of commerce, préfectures, electricity/gas centres, >etc) > >The decisive moment for us now is the Jospin interview on TV this >evening. However, yesterday (20/1) question time at the Assemblee >Nationale, shows that he is not willing to increase the low paid >benefits (minima sociaux). So the battle continues- I'rn glad, I've >got used to organising food, money etc. As someone said; "after a >strike, the workers go back to work. after fighting for our demands >without positive results, where do the jobless go?" > >Our aims have developed and expanded in relation to our actions: > >1st. 3000FF- an end of the year payment for bills like rent and >electricity etc, which was always paid for by the Fonds Social, until >Nicole Notat abolished it in June l997 (new) > >2nd 1500 FF an immediate increase in low-paid benefits for all >categories - pensioners, handicapped people etc. (new?) > >3rd RMI extended to 19/25 years old, Revenue Minimum d'lnsertion, >given to people who have either no other source of income if they >qualify, and to the unemployed at the end of their unemployment >rights. (old) Now we want this income to include students. (new) > >4th an entire revision of the unemployment benefit system. The 1500 >will be an interim payment while waiting for reform to be effective. >(new) > >5th representation. A demand dating back to the Unedic reforms of >1997, and the fight to have unemployment associations list of >addresses put up in the job centres. This has been done in the ANPE >centres (public sector) but not in the ASSEDIC (private sector, but >controlled by Unedic). > >I haven't seen any English reports yet - do let us know what they are >saying -about us. We think that Jospin is under a bit of pressure not >to give in to our demands. Euro is due May 1st. French budget margins >will shrink from 3% to 2.5%. At the European Marches coordination >meeting 10/1/98, most media coverage was in Belgium , Spain and >Italy. Very little from northern countries. Now we have television >crews and journalists from as far north as Sweden to US, UK, Germany, >Austria and Switzerland. Especially BBC - the Newsnight programme? We >enjoy seeing them, but they are too many, and it seems to me they >always want to film the same things - what we do, how we are >organised and how we demonstrate. Worst still, they are invading all >our places then show only a minute footage! However, TV has been very >useful to combat the Préfecture de Paris' use of the CRS to impose >a blockage on food etc. We use them and the radio to denounce the >blockage on newspapers, food & soap etc. > >This blockage has only been a problem in Paris. It just means that in >Paris, we must bring food, soap, toothpaste etc to the occupants and >that is becoming expensive if there are more than 20 people in an >occupation. But fund raising is now getting well organised in Paris. >Unlike other parts of France, we can't block motorway tolls, so we >collect money on demonstrations. Fortunately there are lots at the >moment. The 'Parisien' newspaper, weekend 17 & 18/1, reported that >70% supported the unemployed and gave the unemployment associations >58% confidence in their actions, compared with 45% to Jospin's >government behaviour. Radio coverage is excellent, France Inter and >France Info (both are on Minitel). Also AFP are excellent, they are >also on Minitel or database news service. > >I hope all this helps. I must go. Another demo/action. Unfortunately >timed for 6 am. That's rare. It is a joint action with other groups >to violently wake up Jospin. It is a part of shock tactics. > >The ENS occupation ended on Monday, peacefully. People just walked >out. Occupation of the EDF offices in the 18th arrondissement ended >by the CRS at 6 am. No unnecessary violence. > >Lots of EDF offices have been occupied in France. There will soon be >a new demand to our list to stop all cuts in public utilities for the >unemployed at the end of their rights. Regards, Tom Walker ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Know Ware Communications Vancouver, B.C., CANADA [EMAIL PROTECTED] (604) 688-8296 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The TimeWork Web: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/timework/
