val50

Just seen the next strike is due 22 May, and will include Air France, SNCF this time. With Sarkozy's opinion poll rating down to 36% (was 67% when he came into office) will be interesting to see how he handles this latest round of protests.

G-J-B

I do recall he said he'd put his foot down and shake things up a bit. Haha. I'll be staying indoors on this day.

Novocastrian

Just so long as there's not another one on June 29th. I've just booked our flights on Air France for then.

Collioure_Bee

Or May 29th.

Seem to remember him saying he would be Margaret Thatcher in trousers. Something tells me he won't find the French as easy to trample on as she did the Brits LOL.

Ray51

But isn't the current social model in dire need of reforms ?
35-hrs' working week , all the hols , social accommodation and the rest....???

Ka Ora!

Yes but as ever there is a percentage of people that don't want reform and their all the idiots controlling the unions. Plus a lot of people have got used to their nice short week and baffling quantity of hol's and would prefer less for more. Here not including the big supermarkets most shops don't open on monday (why i ask myself every week) its a very outdated model i remeber that in wales 25/30 years ago.

The children have jumped on the band wagon half of them cant spell Social Reform let alone understand what it entails. If you want more its simple work harder. Maybe if he passed some customer service laws and gave the consumer a bit of power then things would change a little.

dmu

You're right. It's the minority of Communist syndiqués who "foutent la pagaille" (pardon my French) in France to defend their "droits acquis". Président Sarkozy was elected because the silent majority want reforms, which the Socialists daren't propose.
But this discussion risks becoming heated, and should be continued in the "Take it Outside" thread...., n'est-ce pas?

val50

But this discussion risks becoming heated, and should be continued in the "Take it Outside" thread...., n'est-ce pas?[/QUOTE]



I don't think so, mainly because the subject is so specific to living in France. Unless you've lived or visited the country, you wont really appreciate the problem, or circumstances behind it. However, I will defer to the rest of you and if other's feel that this would be more appropriate, will move the thread to TIO.

dmu

I don't think so, mainly because the subject is so specific to living in France. Unless you've lived or visited the country, you wont really appreciate the problem, or circumstances behind it. However, I will defer to the rest of you and if other's feel that this would be more appropriate, will move the thread to TIO.[/QUOTE]

For the record, I have been living in France since 1970!!!!
And politics is a very touchy subject on French forums, leading to bad language and insults. I was simply afraid that the usually polite BE France posters would lose their calm. Sorry!

val50

For the record, I have been living in France since 1970!!!!
And politics is a very touchy subject on French forums, leading to bad language and insults. I was simply afraid that the usually polite BE France posters would lose their calm. Sorry![/QUOTE]


There is nothing for you to apologise for. Politics is a touchy subject anywhere, but hopefully we all get on well enough here that we stay friends I think the last time we had a really heated post was the one on hunting. Now that did cause some heated debate
As I said, if others feel strongly enough that this should be moved, then let me know and I'll do it.
Val

Collioure_Bee

So what is it you want? Do you want them to become like the Brits, slaves to the bosses demands, to go back in time so you have to work 48 hrs plus to get by, accept everything central government tells you like a dog wagging it's tail?

Having one day a week where the shops don't open isn't outdated it's nice. That's one reason I came over here, they aren't slaves to non stop, must be done yesterday mentality that we have in Britain. Good on them for standing up for themselves. Wish we'd had the balls to years ago.

Ka Ora!

There is nothing for you to apologise for. Politics is a touchy subject anywhere, but hopefully we all get on well enough here that we stay friends I think the last time we had a really heated post was the one on hunting. Now that did cause some heated debate
As I said, if others feel strongly enough that this should be moved, then let me know and I'll do it.
Val[/quote]

Politics is a touchy subject in France let alone forums about France, we have Fascist's to one side of our house Socialist liberals to the other it's a nightmare. But the Fascist's like to call themselves Communist because it's not quite as badly viewed. Toulouse is Famous for it from the 60's forward their pulled down large parts of the city displacing a large number of people to those loverly high rise buildings around the periferic it caused no end of problems and the some of the people at the top ended up going to prison for the corruption involved. This was at the time they set up the Regional technologies zones Toulouse getting space electronics etc.

Another method of good reform here would be to remove the 2 vote race for power or shift to a longer voting system allowing candidates votes from weaker parties to be shifted as is used in other countries. IE my first choice is Mr Plonker and my second choice is Mrs Clueless but i dont want Mr Right Wing in at all. Build a true picture of what the majority would like.

You only have to look at other countries around the world but Social environments that are built on regular revolutions just get more revolutions, The populous gets a taste for blood and will spark off at the slightest grievance with the controlling power. The current main population here seems to be some strange belief that the Social system and reform will be changed overnight. Typically you have to clean out the two oldest generations in any system whilst educating the new generations to get any change this can take many years more like decades.

The simple fact is that the way we see it here is the way it will be for many years. But i have purchased a couple of pitchforks just in case.

Vive la revolution..?

mactheconny

Does anyone know if this went ahead today? Has anyone been affected by it?

I haven't left the house today yet, due to getting stinking blind drunk last night. Still, I must say I am feeling CHAMPION

Collioure_Bee

I forgot! Stood at bus stop in Collioure cursing the French buses for not being at least a minute late as I was. Walked up to railway station and waited for train with a lady travelling to Carcassonne for a flight tomorrow and we waited in vain. Then I remembered.

Buses seem to have been running this afternoon though.

dmu

I don't think I've ever heard of a strike being cancelled!
I was only affected by lack of post and no France Inter for the news this morning, but had taken the precaution of going to the Tax Office yesterday and postponing a trip involving bus and tramway until next week. At least they warn you about the next strike in advance (but too late for travellers who booked their journeys two months beforehand).