Monday 30 May 2016

What are they all about these strikes?

Who is against the French reforms – and why?

The reforms, which were forced through this month without parliamentary approval, are fiercely opposed by the hardline CGT union, which sees them as an attempt to undermine union power and sector-based labour deals, students and other protestors on the left – including some in the Socialist party – who regard them as unacceptably pro-business.
Initially approved by many economists and businesses, the reforms are now largely rejected by the country’s main employers’ associations, because the government has been forced to water them down significantly in an attempt to gain popular support.
Val says  imagine how the country would have reacted without the watered down attempt ! All I know is strikes are not good for a country and an economy and sometimes changes need to be made to progress. I am with Manuel Valls on this one. I think those of us from the UK are more appalled at the strikes than French friends, they accept them as part of a way of life. Burning tyres on motorways, dumping dung on roads, burning cars, I can never accept. Dangerous practises that I just cannot understand are not stopped by the gendarmes. If you want to strike hold up a banner at the prefecture. Disruptions as we have seen,  it is just not democratic.
When I said this once before someone told me it was all to do with freedom and expression.
( I could have added bollocks but stopped myself)