BY MURRAY SMITH
PARIS — Millions of French workers participated in a huge one-day general strike on June 3 in an attempt to defeat the government's attacks on pension rights. There were also massive street demonstrations across the country. Another general strike has been called for June 10, the day that parliament will consider the pension "reforms".
The general strike and protests matched those which paralysed France on May 13, when 2 million people demonstrated. On May 25, 1 million people protested, while on May 19, 800,000 people marched in 70 cities.
The strikes and demonstrations are in response to the government of Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's proposals to make it harder for workers to retire on a full pension. Under the plan, employees would have to work for 42 years (up from 40 years in the private sector and 37.5 years in the public sector) before being entitled to a full pension.
The June 3 general strike was massively supported by public sector workers, while the private sector work force was also well represented. The 24-hour strike was called by the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), which is close to the French Communist Party, and Force Ouvriere (which has ties to the Socialist Party). It was also backed by the main public servants' and teachers' unions and the left-wing G10 Solidarity (SUD) union federation. SUD is calling for an indefinite general strike.
Many unions affiliated to the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT) also took part, despite its top leadership's refusal to oppose the government's pension plan.
Education workers are also engaged in rolling strikes in an effort to combat staff cuts, casualisation and the transfer of 110,000 non-teaching staff from the national education service to local government, in the guise of "decentralisation".
Decisive moment
The mass movement against the "Fillon Plan" — as the pension plan has been dubbed, named after the minister of social affairs Francois Fillon — has reached a turning point. The June 3 strike and demonstrations were as big, and often more militant, as the May 13 general strike. The private sector was more strongly represented, particularly in the provinces.
Nevertheless, faced with the government's intransigence, even massive one-day strikes are not enough. Only an indefinite general strike can force Raffarin to back down. The main responsibility for taking the movement forward must lie with the national leaderships of the CGT and Force Ouvriere.
A pattern has now been established of one-day strikes and demonstrations, accompanied by references to generalising the struggle but which are never concretised. Workers have repeatedly demonstrated that, when they have union backing, they are prepared to strike massively. It is now clear that without such backing many are hesitant to go out on a limb. This is particularly the case in the private sector, which is faced with mass lay-offs and factory closures.
Several opportunities have now been missed. May 13 could undoubtedly have been the start of an indefinite general strike. But not only was there no call for one, some militant sectors like the rail workers, who stayed out the following days, were heavily pressured to return to work by the CGT leadership. Again on May 25, no call for an indefinite general strike was made.
Workers' growing unease with the national CGT leadership was tempered by the belief that if Raffarin didn't budge, June 3 would finally be "D-Day". Raffarin didn't budge and June 3 wasn't D-Day. It is now clear that the CGT leadership will not call an indefinite general strike unless it is forced to from below.
Strange situation
This has created a strange situation. The movement has not collapsed. The three-week teachers' strike campaign is still holding firm. A government announcement postponing some proposed education measures has had little effect. In many areas, local government workers are also on strike, as are rail, public transport, postal and health workers in some places.
The movement against the Fillon Plan is still supported by 65% of the population. Another one-day general strike has been called for June 10. In the meantime, actions have become more radical. Strikers blocked the city of Toulouse for four hours on June 5. Elsewhere, workers have blocked railway lines and ports. In a number of cities, the offices of the employers' organisation MEDEF have been trashed by protesters. Several clashes have occurred between strikers and riot police.
Those sectors that remain on strike will hold on until June 10. Since May 25, co-ordinating committees between unions and strike committees at the local level have been strengthened and become more widespread. The teachers' union and the small SUD confederation are still calling for an indefinite general strike, as are local and regional bodies of the CGT and FO.
June 10 could still be the launching pad for an indefinite general strike. But it's looking like the last chance.
[Murray Smith is a leading member of the Scottish Socialist Party resident in France.]
From Green Left Weekly, June 11, 2003.
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