France: why do they protest?
 

The French are almost as famous for their demonstrations as for their strikes. Why do they do it? Well, it is almost always against the government and very rarely to support it. Also, major demonstrations regarding foreign affairs have become quite rare in recent years, although mini-demonstrations about something or other happen just about every day.

Okay, well anyway, tomorrow, September 7th, there is one of our traditional general strikes in France. Why are the French always on strike? Well, actually they are not, and here are the world strike statistics from NationMaster showing the 5-year average of days not worked per 1000 employees.

# 1 Denmark: 296
# 2 Iceland: 244
# 3 Canada: 217
# 4 Spain: 189
# 5 Norway: 135
# 6 Korea, South: 95
# 7 Ireland: 90
# 8 Australia: 86
# 9 Italy: 76
# 10 France: 67
# 11 United States: 60
# 12 Finland: 55
# 13 Greece: 29
# 14 Turkey: 28
# 15 Hungary: 25
= 16 United Kingdom: 22
= 16 Belgium: 22
= 16 Mexico: 22

So, actually France is very much like the United States. But French strikes have a flair that make you notice them. :)

Anyway, along with strikes come demonstrations, and I think they are a lot of fun. In fact, on Saturday, I participated in the protest march against the xenophobic government policies and more specifically the expulsion of perfectly legal gypsies from France.

As is my wont, I made a photo report about it and here it is. Tomorrow's march will be bigger and longer (République to Nation via Bastille) but it will also be in the rain. Those of you who are in Paris, feel free to check it out. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

http://tinyurl.com/29l5pgx

The U.S. is a lot bigger than France, so that's not a large number of days off for strikes in a country this size and with 50 states. Happy Travels!

Guenmai, "per 1000 employees" is the same as "per capita." Were you often out sick during math class? Happy Travels!

Thanks, Kerouac, for the comment. I knew that it was coming. What I was referring to is that it would seem that a country as big as this would have more problems to strike about and there would be more strikes, strikes more often, and many more days off for them, due to the size and complexity of the country. Happy Travels!

Well, if France doesn't curb their spending they'll be bankrupt! In North American the retirement age for gov. pensions is 65 so the French want to change it from 60 to 62 big deal have them work till 65 like the rest of us... As for the Roma's I agree that if they don't find a job in 3 months, ship them back, why should the French pay for their welfare cheques!

What welfare cheques? Please tell me more about these!

<i>What I was referring to is that it would seem that a country as big as this would have more problems to strike about and there would be more strikes, strikes more often, and many more days off for them, due to the size and complexity of the country. </i>

I am also quite intrigued by this comment. Do you think that the United States is poorly organized? Should it be a hotbed of social conflict? Are you disappointed that every other country on the list has a lower population than the United States? USA #1 no matter what? Wow.

I love to see the demonstrations! And during the metro strike we rode for free on the trains that were still operating. Looking forward to you pictures, kerouac

Ha, tomorrow I'm working as usual, even if I have to go by Vélib (one of the best tools ever invented for getting around on a strike day!).

Kerouac: What a twisted interpretation of what I was pointing out. But, it doesn't surprise me. I wasn't the one sick during my classes. Happy Travels!

<i>it would seem that a country as big as this would have more problems to strike about and there would be more strikes, strikes more often, and many more days off for them, due to the size and complexity of the country</i>

Growing up in the United States, I learned in school how 'united' it was and that everybody was taught the same thing from sea to shining sea. Have things changed so much? I do agree that there should be more strikes, when you think of the employment and social policies.

Union membership has been on a steady decline in the USA.
According to the U S Dept of Labor, now only about 7 Percent of all private sector workers belong to a union.
However, the public sector still has about 34% of workers unionized. In the U.S. these public sector workers seldom strike.
Lack of stikes......Lack of union members

I'm aware that you grew up in the U.S. as you've pointed it out several times. And I'm sure you're aware that for decades I have lived in Danmark, for example, during many months of the year. I have personally experienced friends constantly unhappy about this or that there and wanting to strike about something. When one is striking so much, then how serious do the strikes become taken? And in countries that have such "picture perfect" systems to those in comparison to countries who do not, then what's all the discontent about? Happy Travels!

The bottom line here regardless of country is that we are all human and humans, like water, seem to like to take the path of least resistance. keep giving someone something for free and soon it becomes an acceptable way of living. The human spirit is strong but it must be challenged for that spirit to use it's full potential. just imagine if America had been settled by people with the mindset of today. Entreprenurial spirit has shaped the world so rise up carpe diem!
By the way I am in paris today and staying a stone's throw away from the Bastille so rain or not I intend to grab a cafe creme and watch the proceedings

Anyway, in terms of transportation, only the RER B is closed at the moment. All of the other lines are running from 30 to 100%. That will change later in the day, because there is a law to provide minimum service at rush hour, but once rush hour is finished, some of the lines will almost certainly close down -- especially when the time of march approaches. Even people who support the movement don't really enjoy losing a day's pay, so many will work AND protest.

Just curious, and I'm not in for any arguments, not in the mood, but how does one work and protest?

Years ago, when those of us in my field were out on strike, protests, demonstrations, etc... there were over 20,000 people out and we had a strike for weeks and without pay, but in order to make ourselves real clear, and have many of our demands met. And we had people who weren't even in our field join the strike lines, in support.

Then last year, we had a few one day walk outs, combined with some protests/demonstrations and without pay or working while doing most of it unless a protest fell on a day that one wasn't assigned to work.

And a couple of years ago, there was the writer's strike that went on for 100 days and thousands were affected right down to the catering services, maintenance services, carpenters, and all others connected with the studios. I knew many affected by it. I passed the strikers nearly daily. And the restaurants in the area were also affected with low turn out.

Also there was the writers' strike, in the late 80s, that went on for 5 months.

So, when we were on strike,out protesting, etc..., we didn't go to work. We arrived to the strike line "every" morning around 7:30AM and stayed on it for hours and until the thousands of people moved to the protests designated areas and the protests then went on for hours; still no work or pay.

So, there is plenty of activism here and last year as I drove past a Hilton Hotel here, nearly daily, I noticed a workers' strike that went on for weeks on end. Happy Travels!

In France, you are supposed to declare to your employer 48 hours ahead of time if you will be participating in a strike. Your salary is docked accordingly.

Looks like the next demonstration is going to be scheduled for September 18, a Saturday, so that private sector people will have an easier time to participate. It will be just a march, not a strike.

>In the U.S. these public sector workers seldom strike.<

IIRC, public employees are allowed to engage in collective bargaining, but are not permitted to strike.

((I))

I think in France the 3 sectors which may never strike are military, police, and firefighters. Medical personnel can be requisitioned, as can public broadcasting employees -- probably some others that have slipped my mind as well.

My Korean workers used to just put on a head band and refuse to talk to me if they were on strike (unless it was specifically about work) you knew they were on strike they just did not endanger their jobs