A strike paralyzes officials activity in schools in France
The reform agenda of President Nicolas Sarkozy is growing resistance. The attempt to impose a cure for thinning the huge French state apparatus through reducing the number of staff (5.2 million) was answered yesterday with a strike, which affected mainly to public education. According to the Government's plan, the system does not replace more than one staff member for every two who retire, the next course will have 22,900 fewer public servants, of which 11,200 in the education sector. The unions denounced "the dismantling of public service."
The president has postponed until 2012, the end of his mandate, reducing the deficit and debt. The government deficit exceeds 2.7% of GDP, which have led to Paris several warnings from Brussels, just when you are ready to preside over the European Union. For the education minister, Xavier Darcos, who still refuses to revise the plan of downsizing, the strike "is a method that is not geared to the problems we face." Jean-Marc Canon, the CGT, ironic comments on the method of Government: "You need to delete virtually all posts to absorb the entire deficit."
Professors and teachers overwhelmingly supported the strike and highlighted the limited utility, for citizens, the law of minimum services to drum and cymbal approved by the Executive Sarkozy soon after arriving to power last summer. The Government's attempt to put pressure on municipalities to offer a service guard for children who strike without leaving class resulted in a failure. In mid-afternoon, Sarkozy appeared on television to announce a law "to help working parents," which established "the right to host" of students by local authorities, although funded by the state. Teachers who choose to join the strike should announce 48 hours in advance.
Unemployment-third of public sector workers so far this year-was followed by a 28.8% of officials, a figure higher than the 20.6% recorded in the previous call last January 24, the showing a clear loss of credibility of the Government and the growing rejection of the reforms. The education ministry estimated in a 39.34% monitoring the strike, a percentage that unions raise up to 55% and 63% in primary schools.
Beyond schools and institutes, the strike had a variable impact on other sectors, although it was less visible to the public. Just to 4.8% of postal workers, a similar percentage in the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, so that air traffic was not affected. Employees of the public media, who face a plan that provides for the disappearance of advertising, were also called to the strike, although France Télévision assured that only 7% supported the strike.
The strike also extended to workers in the state administration, those in hospitals and, theoretically, transport, although the service and subway trains was not affected.
Trade unions of public transport, which last fall staged a lengthy strike against the reform of its system of special pensions, convened yesterday a new day of protest for 22 by the way the Government is implementing the agreements before the Christmas.
Throughout the day there were demonstrations in several cities in France. In the morning, in Marseilles, some 30,000 people marched, according to unions. Also in Strasbourg and other locations thousands of strikers took to the streets. In Paris, a large demonstration was attended by between 50,000 and 60,000 people, according to the organizers, and 18,000, according to police.
