Massive protests against new anti-youth labor laws in France

March 14-Giant protests were held by unions, students and youth in France during March 9-11 in response to new employment legislation that will weaken labor laws protecting young workers.

French students demonstrate in Rennes, western France.

The law, called the First Employment Contract (CPE in French), was proposed by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and adopted March 9 by Parlia ment. CPE institutes a two-year contract for people under the age of 26 that employ ers can terminate at any time without explanation.

Supposedly an attempt to cut unemployment among youth by encouraging companies to hire young people, opponents point out that the law would actually make it easier for employers to fire youth, assuring less job security to an already struggling population. Nearly one in four young French people is unemployed.

Youth remember Villepin’s response to the rebellions against racism and poverty that ignited throughout France in October and November, when he prioritized the arrests and trials of those protesting instead of equal opportunity legislation.

The British newspaper Guardian des cribed the initial discussions of students at Paris’ Sorbonne University: “Many spoke of sending out dozens, sometimes hundreds of CVs and hearing nothing from employers. Others said wearing a Muslim headscarf or not being white considerably reduced job prospects. Those studying political science said they were assured a job for life in France’s generous state sector. ‘But for most people, being young in France is a hopeless nightmare,’ said David Domine-Cohn, doing a masters in history.”

These discussions turned into protest when on March 9, hundreds of thousands hit the streets nationwide after the law was passed, with police estimating the number of protesters at 400,000 and unions estimating 1 million. Police used teargas to break up demon strations at the Sorbonne. Mean while, approximately 3,000 students, according to organizers, stopped traffic at the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Marianne, a 23-year-old student, told the French Press Agency (AFP), “The aim of this hard-hitting action on the Champs Elysees is to make ourselves heard by the government which is not listening to us. We will be determined, until the CPE is withdrawn.”Another demonstrator said, “Villepin said, ‘It’s not the street that rules’ —but today it is!”

The next day, some 400 student activists occupied the Sorbonne until early March 11. Earlier, police with batons had beaten students at a roadblock next to the university. The students set up barricades at the main doors of the university and hurled “seemingly anything they could lay their hands on” from upper-story windows of the building at the police, who were positioned in the square outside the university. At 4 a.m. the next day, French riot police stormed the building and again assaulted students with teargas and batons.

Student leaders said more than half of the country’s 85 universities were in some way paralyzed by demonstrations. The AFP reported that eight were effectively closed down.

AFP called the police beatings “a scene reminiscent of those in the 1968 student riots that shook France and brought the government of the day to its knees.” The Guardian recounted, “On that occasion, it was Vietnam, Algeria and the antiquated rules of their superiors that spurred students to action. These days, it is something far closer to home.”

In Paris, unions and university and high school students have called for a national protest on March 18—the same day that protests around the world will condemn the third anniversary of the illegal war and occupation of Iraq.

The writer is a FIST organizer.