France: Mass protests against proposed labour reforms

[Ashworth-Attwater]

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/03/f ... 55863.html

Hundreds of thousands of workers and students took to the streets of French cities on Thursday, braving heavy rain to protest against proposed labour changes.

The demonstrations - which led to scores of arrests as youths and police clashed in a number of cities - were part of a nationwide strike against changes that could alter France's 35-hour working week and make it easier to hire and fire employees.

So, what do you think, NSG? I for one like the sight of young people and workers protesting against the curtailment of their rights. It seems like this is part of the government's attempts do decrease unemployment. The French parliament will vote on the labor reforms late this month/May. So, who do you stand with? The workers or the government? Comment below.

[Utilitarian Garibaldi]

Yea not even Olerand was against deregulation. This is most likely instigated by the silly degrowth crowd that's common in France.

[Constantinopolis]

Of course I support the workers.

And as for labour market deregulation - the economic stagnation brought about by neoliberal capitalism isn't going to be fixed by applying more of the thing that got the world economy into this mess in the first place.

On another note, now that Hollande is blatantly governing like a right-wing president, the question is, are there going to be 3 right-wing candidates in the election next year?

[Ashworth-Attwater]

On another note, now that Hollande is blatantly governing like a right-wing president, the question is, are there going to be 3 right-wing candidates in the election next year?

that's how liberal democracy works, my friend.

[Neon Trotsky]

I can almost guarantee that the 35 hour work week was a hard fought victory for the labor movement and some incarnation of the Socialist party in France, and this move is a pretty clear betrayal of their efforts by Hollande.

[Mugrul]

Here's another article on the reforms.

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-france-to-reform-overly-complex-labour-law-by-mid-2016-pm-2015-9

Analysts said the mooted changes would bring France into line with its European competitors.

"It makes a lot of sense to give more power to (negotiations) that can take place at company level," said Stephane Garelli, an expert in world competitiveness at the Swiss-based IMD business school.

"This is a system which is in operation in Germany, in Switzerland, in the Scandinavian countries... and it works very well. Italy is also going in this direction."

He added: "What we have found is that if you want to promote the flexibility of the labour market, it starts by letting people who are in the labour market make their own agreements."

These sound like good reforms.

[Kxcd]

Here's another article on the reforms.

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-france-to-reform-overly-complex-labour-law-by-mid-2016-pm-2015-9

Analysts said the mooted changes would bring France into line with its European competitors.

"It makes a lot of sense to give more power to (negotiations) that can take place at company level," said Stephane Garelli, an expert in world competitiveness at the Swiss-based IMD business school.

"This is a system which is in operation in Germany, in Switzerland, in the Scandinavian countries... and it works very well. Italy is also going in this direction."

He added: "What we have found is that if you want to promote the flexibility of the labour market, it starts by letting people who are in the labour market make their own agreements."

These sound like good reforms.

I am open to worktime flexibility that doesn't just flex the way the corporations want it to. Will these reforms do that or not?
later:
After reading the article, I'm still not sold but I'm not entirely opposed either.

[The Alexanderians]

35 hours? Awwww that's adorable. It's no wonder the exchange students were so shocked at how long my father worked.

[Atlanticatia]

35 hours? Awwww that's adorable. It's no wonder the exchange students were so shocked at how long my father worked.

Being a country where the average worker works long hours with little paid leave is not something to be proud of. If anything, it'd be great if we could have a workweek that was less than 35 hours.

[The Alexanderians]

35 hours? Awwww that's adorable. It's no wonder the exchange students were so shocked at how long my father worked.

Being a country where the average worker works long hours with little paid leave is not something to be proud of. If anything, it'd be great if we could have a workweek that was less than 35 hours.

Oh no it'd be wonderful if people could have long breaks.

[Aelex]

35 hours? Awwww that's adorable. It's no wonder the exchange students were so shocked at how long my father worked.

Well, given that we also have one of the best productivity of the world, I suppose we're just proving right the adage "Work smarter, not longer".

[Teemant]

Of course I support the workers.

And as for labour market deregulation - the economic stagnation brought about by neoliberal capitalism isn't going to be fixed by applying more of the thing that got the world economy into this mess in the first place.

On another note, now that Hollande is blatantly governing like a right-wing president, the question is, are there going to be 3 right-wing candidates in the election next year?

I just love this socialist rhetoric.
Current situation is what brought to economic situation not neoliberal capitalism. Reforms are necessary because unless there are reforms then nothing will change.

[Napkiraly]

35 hours? Awwww that's adorable. It's no wonder the exchange students were so shocked at how long my father worked.

Well, given that we also have one of the best productivity of the world, I suppose we're just proving right the adage "Work smarter, not longer".

Y'all could probably work a bit longer though.

[Lautrec-]

Yeah sure, why not? Gotta stay competitive, right? Let's give these poor, oppressed corporations a little extra flexibility.

[Paredonia]

They always seem to be protesting about something or other across the Channel. It's practically a French past time at this point. I haven't decided if that's a good thing or not yet though.

[Greed and Death]

35 hours? Awwww that's adorable. It's no wonder the exchange students were so shocked at how long my father worked.

Well, given that we also have one of the best productivity of the world, I suppose we're just proving right the adage "Work smarter, not longer".

yes I have read how the French are 50 cents more productive an hour.

Though Id rather take more productive per week and work them harder.

[Sanctissima]

Damn it Hollande, if you're going to be a Socialist, at least do it right.

[Big Jim P]

35 hours? To think that people consider Americans lazy.

[Aelex]

35 hours? To think that people consider Americans lazy.

Well, it's quite the contrary in fact. You U.Sians have some cult of labor that most of us, European, actually find very strange but, given that you're actually less productive, I'm not sure that this focus on hard but ineffective work is really that great, tho.

[Olivaero]

Here's hoping that French Labour keeps fighting the good fight, 35 hours a week is a much more civilised length of time to ask people to work. If anything the amount of work being asked of the worker should be decreasing and pay should be rising. Then we might actually see growth in the economy.

[Ashworth-Attwater]

35 hours? To think that people consider Americans lazy.

arbeit macht frei amirite?

[The Alexanderians]

35 hours? To think that people consider Americans lazy.

Well, it's quite the contrary in fact. You U.Sians have some cult of labor that most of us, European, actually find very strange but, given that you're actually less productive, I'm not sure that this focus on hard but ineffective work is really that great, tho.

Funny because when you look at production per hour and ignore total hours altogether France is 6th, the first 5 are:
1 Norway
2 Luxembourg
3 United States
4 Belgium
5 Netherlands
https://www.conference-board.org/data/economydatabase/#GDP_perHourWorked

So unless you're Norwegian or from Luxembourg "less productive" is hardly a good descriptor.

And if you want to narrow hours down to the States vs France the work hours are 47 vs 35.

But the point isn't about international compares it's about the actual situation in France and the protests, we took a mild turn it seems.

[The balkens]

we (North?) Americans work 40 hours a week, Europe. Nut up.

[The Land Fomerly Known as Ligerplace]

we (North?) Americans work 40 hours a week, Europe. Nut up.

That would only possibly be good if we were being paid well for our work.

[Ifreann]

French workers protesting? Good heavens, what has the world come to?