World Workers' Movements Newswire Archive

European slavery: "The Polish workers were paid EUR 5 an hour instead of the standard EUR 25 an hour. They worked 12 hours a day and the wages for a portion of each shift were allegedly not included in the agency's bookkeeping. The rest was paid at the standard rate for a seaman.''

Images from today’s pensions strike in London.

“The widespread perception in French society is that the gulf separating those ‘inside’ society, even if they are badly paid, from those ‘outside’, in particular living in the suburbs, has become more accentuated over the past 20 years.” - Sociologist François Dubet.

What Have The Palestinian People Chosen?


The elections in Palestine have brought out results that could affect the balance
of power in the Middle East. The loosing of strength by the El-Fattah was known,
but it was never predicted that the result would have been so dramatic. In any

As the protests against the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US, against the contract between the Ecuadorian state and the oil company OXY, against Plan Colombia and for "life and self-determination" enter their third week, police and military repression increases in Quito and other protest areas.

Tuesday March 21st: summary of the days events from libcom below.

This thursday is also another student day of action ahead of next week's general strike.

A review of news, opinion, and photography recorded, from the Indymedia Newswire. With times and freqs for tuning in anywhere you can, at your leisure. Free to rebroadcast. The world & recorded for the community archive! World Peace!

Tuesday 28th March 2006 will see 1.5 Million workers strike to defend pensions. On the same day there will be a General Strike in France as part of the uprising against the CPE.

French unions and student bodies have today official called for a general strike and massive protests throughout France on 28th March 28 to pressure the government to withdraw the new CPE law that removes existing rights from young workers.

No Foreign Occupation of Iraq. Don’t attack Iran.
No Islamist State, No Sharia Law
Stop Islamists killing queers and women in Iraq & Iran

There was some trouble in Paris but so far isolated. At Le Place de la Nation police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of youths who fought with police. The clashes lasted for around two hours. Around 14 arrests reported. 12 protestors and 4 police injured. Later reports speak of 50+ arrests though this is unclear if it's Paris or a national total for today.

First major estimate's of today's massive french protests put the figure above one million. Le Figaro is reporting that unions believe well over a million are now demonstrating against the CPE labour reform on the streets of France.

The Agency France Presses is now quoting organisers as giving a figure of 1,145,000 people...

We've been covering events in France for the best part of a week:

Riots, occupations, its all been building up to today massive demonstrations that are set to take place across France.

68% of the population is now against Villepins labour liberalisation measures and he refuses to back down.

french struggle

Many more youth groups than just the students attended the demo. Also present was the working class and Algerian young of Paris both of whom have an axe to grind with the authorities. The CRS riot police kept their distance from the demo letting the marchers complete their route un-harassed until the end. At this point they made confrontation inevitable by blocking all routes away from the finish with tooled up riot squad.

It is impossible to give a number for the demo. There was no helicopter available to IMC UK. Tens of thousands marched against the CPE legislation possibly up to 100,000. The demo was loud and peaceful with few stewards and not a cop in sight. Several sound systems entertained the thousands over a route of several miles.

One mobilization from just one of the occupied Universities.

Thursday 16th March Update:
Well over 250,000 students in France took to the streets in protests against the CPE around the country. That's the official estimate, groups involved put the numbers much higher (300,000 according to the student union UNEF, 500,000 according to FIDL’S, and even 600,000 according to UNL’S). 70% of universities effected by occupations and protests, schools also occupied in many places. More roads blockaded, town hall occupied in Rennes, reports of fascists attacking student protestors in several locations, heavy clashes in central Paris and at Sevres and near Sorbonne area this evening with tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon used as people fought riot police from 7.30pm, CNT union members arrested, reports of up to 300 total arrests today...

On the 16th of march, 64 french universities, out of 84, were on strike.
This huge movement has started in january. Why ?

We invite people from all over the world who support the french students
in resistance and oppose the precaritization of life
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precarity] to join the Electronic
Disturbance Theatre and borderlands Hacklab on March 16th and 17th, 2006
to engage in a virtual sit-in on french government websites to demand
that all of the students be released from prison and that the 'contrat
première embauche' (CPE) be revoked.

Join the action here:  http://sdhacklab.org/france_solidarity