Macron attacks French workers, big protest

This video about France says about itself:

23 September 2017

Tens of thousands of anti-Macron supporters marched behind the far-left opposition party leader Jean-Luc Melenchon to the Republique Square in Paris on Saturday, in protest against recent labour law reforms introduced by French President Emmanuel Macron.

SOT, Olivier Besancenot, Nouveau Parti Anticapitaliste (The New Anticapitalist Party) spokesperson (French): “French President Emmanuel Macron thinks that it’s not the street that makes the law, so we will refresh his memory, and demonstrate to him that the street (resistance) can both decide the law and undo laws. It’s already happened recently, measures like the first job contract, which had been voted in by the European Parliament, can be withdrawn and defeated by the street (resistance).”

SOT, Jean-Luc Melenchon, France Insoumise (Defiant France) President (French): “Mr. President, it remains for you to consult the history of France to learn that it was the street that ended the kings; and the Nazis; it is the street that protected the Republic against the criminal generals in 1961, it is the street that obtained the recognition of the right to create union sections, which obtained the 4th week of paid leave and 30 percent increase of the minimum wage in 1958.”

SOT, Jean-Luc Melenchon, France Insoumise President (French): “So we promise to come closer to these trade unions, if they want, to propose to them to be at the head of the struggle, in a fight that must be determined, decisive and all together.”

SOT, Jean-Luc Melenchon, France Insoumise President (French): “It will be a strong and dense action, as for example, to sweep a million [people] on the Champs-Elysees!”

SOT, Pierre Laurent, Parti Communiste Francais (French Communist Party) national secretary (French): “Because the movements are going to be very strong next week for road transport, the unitary movements that are preparing the public service – the demonstrations of the retired – there will be a rising response, which is now growing in our country, and we want to encourage it and help it build itself in unity.”

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

France: Parisians march against Macron‘s latest diktats

Monday 25th September 2017

Thousands take to the streets to stop workers’ contracts becoming ‘rags’

THOUSANDS took to Paris’s streets yesterday to protest against new presidential decrees that attack workers, which will turn contracts from “safeguards” into a “paper rag.”

Leftwinger Jean-Luc Melenchon, whose party France Unbowed organised yesterday’s protest, insisted that its not too late to reverse President Emmanuel Macron’s diktats.

The French president signed the decrees on Friday, sending them to parliament for approval — with no option of amendment.

They allow employers to opt out of industry-wide collective bargaining agreements and make it easier for bosses to fire workers.

Addressing 150,000-strong crowds gathered in the the Place de la Republique, built to honour the French revolution of 1789, Mr Melenchon said: “The battle isn’t over — it is beginning.

“It’s the street that brought down the kings. It’s the street that brought down the nazis.”

He warned that “work contracts will no longer be a safeguard but a sort of paper rag.”

Critics of the president said his use of executive orders to fast-track the changes was monarchical.

The protest was the third in just two weeks with 132,000 attending a demonstration on Thursday, and double that the week before.

Mr Melenchon said he would reach out to unions to join forces against the legislation, which he said threatens the French way of life. All of Europe is watching us … What is happening is the battle for France,” he said.

The legislation builds on 2016’s EU-pushed El Khomri law that sparked a year of strikes and protests — and was forced through under emergency powers by former president Francois Hollande after parliament twice voted it down.

Mr Melenchon urged supporters to come out again next Saturday for a “pots and pans” protest.

“Grab your pots next Saturday to make as much noise as possible,” he said.

“This is what our message will be: You make our lives miserable. You prevent us from dreaming so we will prevent you from sleeping.”

See also here.

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