Perturbation

"Mouvment social.....la circulation des trains est perturbée". It's week 3 and counting in the latest of France's national pastime; le greve (the strike). With the unions strong opposition to Sarkozy's plan to extend the age of retirement, there have been marches, sit ins, and a vexing lack of transportation into and out of Paris for what seems like an eternity. Usually one can expect a day here or there when the train and bus schedules are cut in half, a minor annoyance and ineffectual in terms of a social movement. It's something I have come to expect since my arrival in France three years ago. "All the unions must strike together for at least one month!" my friend Madame V declares; "One day will not effect change!" I blame her by the way, my leetle commie friend who works for the largest union in France, CGT. "So, everyone should work longer so that YOU aren't inconvenienced by a transit strike?" my other Marxist friend J.P. called me out, his voice dripping with sarcasm and a strong sense of social injustice. Snap! Franchment, working until 65 might not be such a horrible thing, unless you are a stone mason, or a coal miner, or a fisherman on The Deadliest Catch. "But do we have to work until we're old and cannot enjoy the life?" Madame V demands, "there is much money in France, let the rich pay the tax! They can afford it!" I cannot honestly say I disagree with that logic, nor can millions of française who deliver mail, pick up trash, and work in restaurants and factories. The anethesiologist's union mobilized last summer and staged a massive sit in on the tracks at Gare Montparnasse, one of Paris' main arteries. This is the connecting point for me from the suburbs into Paris, and back home again. Fortunately on that day I had no work in the city and missed the perturbation! But for the last three weeks, there have been no trains going into town AT ALL between 4 and 8 p.m., only one per hour going home (instead of every 15 minutes), the last one of the night being at 11 p.m. instead of 12:58. This is severly cramping my style, and I am perturbed! (It's times like this I miss having a car.) The Senat was scheduled to vote on the issue of retirement last Wednesday, and the bill extending the age to 65 was expected to pass. I figured all hell would break loose for a couple of days, the strike would ultimately end, and life would once again return to normal. Instead, the opposition tacked on 362 riders to the bill, all of which must be debated individually before a vote can be called. A sort of french filibuster! Meanwhile, the perturbation continues.....

"C'est dans la rue, que ça se passe!"

I attended my first manifestation (demonstration) yesterday, and what an event! Taking to the streets in a show of solidarity is a national sport here, and the french do it with their unique sense of style. First you gather at the designated point of departure, meet up with friends and colleagues, smoke a few cigarettes and maybe have something to eat whilst waiting for the event to get rolling, usually a minimum of an hour late. Festive music blares from loudspeakers atop vans, vendors sell food and drink (alcohol included of course), big balloons float above with the logos of various union syndicates displayed. Yesterdays manifestation was about retirement and pension issues. Since the mid 1980's the age of retirement has been 60 years, down from age 65 as it was historically in France. As President Sarkozy attempts to balance the budget, a program has been drafted to raise the age of retirement to 62 or 63 years of age, AND cut each pensioners benefits. By how much is unclear, as the government has been ambiguous during negotiations with the unions regarding the actual numbers. Some people are just a year away from retirement, only to discover they will have to work another two or three years to receive their pension! And now they aren't sure how much they will have to live on when the day comes. So, along with my friend who is a secretary for the largest union in France, (CGT) and roughly 90,000 others I marched, chanted, and raised my fist for power to the people. There were over 176 manifestations throughout France yesterday, with 6 of the 7 unions represented. Union syndicates are a bit different here, one can choose to join any of the seven which represent all trades unlike in America where truckers belong to the Teamsters, auto workers belong to the UAW, and so on. I saw very few police, most being stationed in the metro at Bastille where the march ended, and no violence. It was exciting to march by cafés and see people join in the chant, raising their fists in support-one man was dressed in the traditional striped suit of a jailed prisoner with a sign that decried having to work for the man any longer than age 60. There were anesthesiologists (who held a huge manifestation of their own throughout France last week which included a massive sit in on the tracks of Gare Montparnasse, blocking commuter traffic all day long), auto workers, textile workers, and construction workers. The latter held placards stating their belief that the age of retirement should be 55. When we reached the Place du Bastille there were hundreds of Persons sans Papiers, African immigrants who work with temporary permits in restaurants, paying taxes but receiving no health or any other form of benefits. Assembled on the steps of the opera house they were beautiful, a black sea of humanity. Unfortunately I had been overexcited at the beginning of the event and shot my wad early, using up my cameras battery power in the first 30 minutes so I was not able to capture this very moving scene for you! My friend and I donated a few centime for their cause, as they are currently on strike without wages. Upon reaching our destination we located a café and sat to rest our tired feet and take a cup of tea before heading home. Will the manifestation be successful in convincing the government to rethink their program and consider raising the money they need by taxing the huge profits made by investment banks, hedge fund operators, and kazillionaires? It remains to be seen. In mid June the program will be sent to the Assemblé Nationale for voting - just when the citizenry of France begin their vacations and are distracted by the Coupe du Monde (World Cup). Pretty tricky eh? The next manifestation I will attend is June 12th, the theme being women's rights. I have already planned my placard, it will say: "Femmes sans soutien-gorge" (women without bras)! You can enjoy the experience of yesterdays march with me on my Youtube channel, "Bonbondeparis". "C'est dans la rue, que ça se passe"! It's in the street that all have arrived.......