Workers in France have staged major strikes for the last three weeks affecting the transport, teachers, postal, sanitation and other public services. 1 million people demonstrated May 26 in response to a call for a general strike. The strikes have continued since then and street demonstations have grown more confrontational. The uprising is in response to the government's proposed restructuring of the public sector.

Proposed reforms to the pension system would increase the retirement age by forcing people to work 40 years or perhaps more to recieve a full pension. The current requirement 37.5 years. Other reforms include decentralising the public education system forcing the privatisation of many schools. University changes would increase privatision of france's tertiary education sector.

On June 10, 200,000 people marched to the National Assembly where the government was debating the reforms. The protest ended in confrontations between police and protestors with police using CS gas, stun grenades, water cannons and pepper spray again demonstrators. (Photos [ 1 | 2| 3.] 65 people were arrested, two have already recieved 4 months prison for allegedly throwing paving stones. People have been holding a solidarity demonstation outside the court.

Several offices of different universitities are currently being occupied [fr] and in Burgondy one group occupied the local state television station [it] interrupting the 1:00pm news and staying to prevent the 7:00pm broadcast. For direct reports in French see Paris Indymedia
 http://paris.indymedia.org/