French Unions Stage Last-Ditch Resistance Against Labor Law

Unions say it damages hard-won worker rights.

Deja-vu? Protests against labour reforms in cities across France once again turned ugly on Thursday with violent clashes between some protesters and police in Paris and other cities. Demonstrations were held across the country against labour reforms.

Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters marching on Thursday in France against labor reforms in what unions say will likely be the last demonstrations to try to overturn the law.

Police said between 12,500 and 13,500 marched in Paris. Protest organisers put the numbers across France at around 170,000. Fifteen gendarmes and police officers were injured, including two who were hospitalized.

Trade unions admitted that turnout would likely be lower than at the mass rallies in the spring but vowed to continue opposing the law which makes it easier to hire and fire people and for bosses to negotiate directly with employees on working time.

Protesters took to the streets across France for new demonstrations against the labor reforms after the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union and some other groups called for protests and strikes on Thursday.

A protester in Paris.

The street protests, many of them scarred by violence, have brought thousands of people into the streets over the past few months but the number of protesters has dwindled as the public seems to lose the appetite to fight the law.

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The major train-building company Alstom is now locked in battle with the French government over the closure of a locomotive factory.

Hundreds of demonstrators chanting “Alstom is Belfort, Belfort is Alstom” took part in a march from the plant Thursday over the move.

In Belfort, the government is battling to save the historic factory that assembled France’s first high-speed TGV train.

The government of unpopular President Francois Hollande has said the measures are aimed at boosting the country’s economy and curbing the two-digit unemployment rate. The French civil aviation authority DGAC had forewarned Tuesday that 15 per cent flights at the Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports in Paris, besides the one at Beauvais, 80 km from the capital, would have to be cancelled.

Low-priced airline Ryanair said it had cancelled scores of flights to or through France.

Opponents believe the measures are weighted in favor of employers.

The protests earlier this year failed to stop the government from abandoning the law, and it was forced through parliament without a vote because of opposition on the left and right.

Mailly and Philippe Martinez, head of the CGT union, said they hoped legal challenges would force the withdrawal of the new law.

Clashes trigged by the plans for the reforms peaked on June 14, when around 40 people were hurt and dozens arrested.