From: "Portside Moderator" <moderator@PORTSIDE.ORG>
Sent: Monday, October 18, 2010 6:50 PM
Subject: Protests in Europe, France & Italy
1. France : Support for the Protest Movement Is Still
Gathering Momentum
2.. Thousands march in Italy for worker rights, democracy
===
1.
France : Support for the Protest Movement Is Still Gathering Momentum
By Paule Masson l'Humanite (France) October 17, 2010
http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/spip.php?article1625
Far from being on the ebb, social anger against the French government's
pensions reform grows stronger every day. The IFOP poll we publish today
shows that 57% of French people want discussions to start fresh over
"another pensions reform project". Only 16% simply want the bill to be
withdrawn, proof that little by little the idea that another reform is
possible and alternative proposals must be discussed is gaining strength.
Young people between 18 and 24 (to the tune of 64%) and blue-collar
workers (59%) are the categories that are the most favourable to this
position. Our poll is only one in a series of many, notably the BVA poll
(before last Tuesday's general strike), in which 54% of French people say
they support the idea of "a general strike as in 1995".
Our poll also confirms what is taking place at the grassroots level. For
the last few days, the social conflict has been expressing itself in a
multitude of initiatives that prove it's a round-the-clock protest. "A lot
of the information available concerns" oil refineries or transport, "but
that's only the surface of things", Bernard Thibault, general secretary of
the Labour General Confederation (CGT) keeps saying, as opposed to
statements that the movement is "running out
of steam". General assemblies are taking place in hundreds of plants or
services; a lot of them don't vote for a daily renewable strike, or "not
yet". But most discuss the possible forms of the movement, of its extension,
and prepare multi-branch actions, like last Saturday's demonstrations. At
least 230 demonstrations have been called across the country.
In many towns demonstrations take place on a daily basis, whether among
secondary school pupils or multi-branch workers. That was true last Friday
of Marseille, Rouen, Montpellier, Nantes, Tours, Saint-Nazaire and
elsewhere. Other actions develop that block access to and operations in
strategic sites like oil depots; but also roads, round-abouts, and tunnels
are being blocked.
For the last few days, local public services have been seething. The CGT
numbered some 120 local government services in at least 50 departements
(against 43 last Thursday) that were disrupted. Garbage collectors are on
strike in Marseille and Paris. In Bordeaux, 46 school canteens are closed,
while in Nantes the central kitchen does not supply any meals to the town's
schools. The contempt the government has shown towards young people who
supposedly "have no reason to demonstrate" and "are only skipping classes",
has given a kick-start to the movement. The schools union (UNL) said 400
schools were mobilized last Tuesday at midday, and 1100 two days later.
Now on the ropes, the government is trying the tactic of repression in order
to divide protesters, notably against young marchers. In doing so, it is
raking the embers of accumulated rancour and some of the rallies have gotten
out of control. Yesterday police forced demonstrators out of the oil depots
they were occupying. In choosing the strategy of fear-mongering, the
government is taking the risk of further widening the clash. "This reform
symbolizes all the injustices in this country," Francois Chereque, the
general secretary of the CFDT (a more moderate labour confederation)
concedes. Interviewed by AFP, Guy Groux, a specialiston social movements,
wonders "whether we are not witnessing a more global rejection that extends
even beyond the pensions reform to a rejection of the government."
Indeed the nature of the movement may be changing. But it is certainly not
on the ebb. As Saturday's demonstration may [1] once more show.
[1] This article was published in the October 16 issue
==
2.
Thousands march in Italy for worker rights, democracy
(Roundup)
Rome - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the Italian capital Rome
on Saturday, demanding worker rights and democracy.
Seven chartered trains and 70 buses from across Italy brought people to the
protest, which had been called by the metal-worker union FIOM, local media
reported. Students and workers from other fields also took part.
'We want to defend work contracts, jobs and democracy -
given one of the biggest assaults of all times on the
rights of workers,' said the secretary general of FIOM,
Maurizio Landini.
The protest came amid criticism of the economic policies pursued by the
conservative government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, as well as an
attempt by Italian carmaker Fiat to push through more flexible work
conditions and contracts at its Pomigliano branch near Naples - threatening
to close the plant otherwise.
Opposition politicians participated in the demonstration, as did the
secretary general of Italy's largest union, CGIL.
'Italy is tumbling into the abyss. A change in the
politico- economic strategy is urgently needed,'
Guglielmo Epifani said.
No violent incidents were reported, despite fears to the contrary. Interior
Minister Roberto Maroni had earlier warned that anarchistic groups may
infiltrate the demonstration.
But two separate protest marches peacefully made their way from the city
centre to the square in front of the Basilica of St John Lateran, where a
final rally was to take place.
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