Yet another nationwide strike slowed transport and limited postal, hospital, schools and other essential services throughout France today. The general strike was called by union organisers protesting the First Employment Law (CPE) that they fear will create more job insecurity for youth. In about 100 cities and towns, an estimated one million protestors marched in opposition to the CPE. Demonstrations were generally peaceful, but Agence France Presse reported by day's end more than 400 people had been arrested, at least 200 in Paris in chaotic scenes. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to break up groups of troublemakers who attacked police and threatened students.
Several French citizens I talked to expressed concern that CPE may contribute to job instability for their children. While the law was designed to counter high unemployment among French youth by limiting early job contracts to two years, many Frenchmen remain skeptical. One man told me his daughter was educated in the United States; despite excellent qualifications she has been unable to find work in the French pharmaceutical industry. Others talked about their adult children being forced to commute to London or Brussels for job-security. "There simply are not enough good jobs here to go around," a concerned parent remarked. "Under CPE, a young person's contract could be abruptly terminated for any reason. I ask you, does this do anything to help the unemployment rate?"
Some Frenchmen said they prefer to adopt a "wait and see" approach. "These strikes don't help anybody," one woman said. "The law hasn't even gone into effect yet. Why can't they wait a year and see how the law works? Then if they don't like it, they can vote the government out of office." Another woman said, "When a young person is starting out in the workforce, how can they know exactly what they want to do for their entire working life? Why do they need guarantees to keep a job they may not like?"
Meanwhile, it appears that Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and trade union representatives are at a stalemate. The prime minister has refused demands to scrap the new law; union organisers say they will not negotiate until CPE is abandoned. No doubt more protests and strikes are ahead for La France.