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France hit by strikes, protests over jobs law
By Hugh Schofield
AFP
PARIS
Petroleumworld.com 03 28 06France was hit by nationwide strikes against Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's youth jobs law Tuesday as police braced for more possible violence on the fringes of mass street protests.
Trade unions and student groups vowed a "black Tuesday" in their three-week campaign against the government's First Employment Contract (CPE), which makes it easier to hire and fire young people, although disruption to transport was lighter than feared.
In Paris, 70 percent of city metro trains and buses were running normally and more than half of suburban commuter trains. Nationwide two out of three TGV high-speed trains were operating and half of other rail services, according to the state-owned SNCF.
International rail services on the Eurostar to London and Thalys to Brussels and Amsterdam were unaffected.
The civil aviation authority DGAC said that a third of flights from French airports were cancelled, but most of these were domestic services.
Paris airports were reporting delays of around half an hour on some flights.
Around the country, public transport was affected in around 70 towns and cities, while the airport in the southwestern town of Pau was closed.
Schools, post-offices, banks, government offices and unemployment bureaus were
all disrupted, and no newspapers were published.
Thousands of extra police deployed in the capital to head off the risk of violence during an afternoon mass rally that is expected to draw many tens of thousands of students and workers.
Previous protest marches have ended in running battles between police and rioters. On Thursday, gangs of youths from Paris's high-immigration suburbs smashed windows, set fire to cars and mugged demonstrating students.
Police and transport officials were monitoring the rail and bus systems to try to stop unruly elements from entering the capital.
Other protest rallies were planned in cities across France.
Meanwhile unions turned down an invitation from Villepin to attend afternoon talks on the contested contract, which was voted through parliament two weeks ago and is awaiting approval by constitutional experts before passing into law.
Unions and student groups are demanding withdrawal of the CPE, but the prime minister is offering only "adjustments" on its two most contentious aspects: a two-year trial period, and the free hand given to employers during that period to sack under 26-year-olds without explanation.
The government insists the contract is a vital tool for fighting youth unemployment, which can reach more than 50 percent in the poor city suburbs hit by last year's riots, but opponents say it is a breach of hard-won labour rights.
An Ipsos poll for Le Monde newspaper gave some comfort to the prime minister, who has staked his political career on getting the CPE into law.
While 63 percent of the population disapproved of his decision to stand by the CPE, views were heavily influenced by political allegiance. Some 74 percent of voters for his Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) supported his position.
In addition 50 percent overall favoured keeping the CPE "with adjustments" compared to 44 percent who wanted it completely scrapped. Only 37 percent believed Villepin would end up withdrawing the contract.
The US government warned its citizens to be cautious while visiting large French cities.
"Recent demonstrations have occurred at times in areas frequented by tourists. Some of the demonstrations may be announced, while others may be spontaneous. Police have responded by using tear gas," the US State Department said in a statement.
"US Embassy personnel have been advised to avoid all demonstrations and large gatherings," the advisory added.
AFP 28 03 06 0912 GMTCopyright © 1994-2006 Agence France-Presse. All Rights Reserved.
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