Thousands of workers across
In
The vote was a test of Hollande’s ability to drive through the bosses’ agenda. He made humiliating retreats in the face of right wing protests last year but has been unable to avoid mass opposition from unions.
But railway workers walked out before the vote. Despite constant hounding by the media and lack of a clear lead from their union, those in the
Axel Persson, a train driver and activist in the New Anticapitalist Party, told Socialist Worker, “The strike was organised through daily mass assemblies in stations and depots, and in
Mood
Hollande won this vote, but he still has other major attacks to push through, some of which have been dragging on for years. And the rail workers’ strike has fed a mood to fight back. Other strikes are beginning this week, and a strike by post workers in
Centre stage are 100,000 artists and technicians in theatre, TV, cinema and concerts. They are striking to defend the unemployment insurance scheme that allows them to survive in an industry rife with short term contracts.
Their long struggle has radicalised in recent months, despite pleas for calm from prime minister Manuel Valls. Strikes threaten to disrupt major summer festivals.
TV worker Sophie Tissier has been a prominent voice in the movement since she interrupted a live broadcast last year to speak out against wage cuts. She told Socialist Worker, “With unemployment rising the government has used us as a scapegoat. They are trying to set the poor against the poor.”
She explained, “The reform will make it easier for bosses to put pressure on workers to accept bad conditions. Our work creates a lot of
Today’s action follows a demonstration last week by strikers in the different disputes. These struggles offer hope for a change in the political situation that has fed the far right in
Axel said, “The fightback is starting to organise in
Sophie added, “It’s important to fight together, because we are all facing the same thing. Workers are never listened to, so we are all angry.”