[PEN-L:1992] Info from France

[Tavis Barr <tavis@xxxxxxxxx>]

I thought some pen-lers might be interested in this little tidbit.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 15 Dec 1995 01:02:07 -0500
From: Barbara A. Zeluck <bzeluck@xxxxxxxxx>
Subject: I talked to Michel tonight

[Personal stuff deleted.  The opening paragraoh explains that Barbara
talked to a friend from France who is active in the Air France union and
a member of the Trotskyist-leaning LCR.]

   Air France workers have not budged since their 1993 strike (Michel
led that strike at De Gaulle airport for anyone who doesn't know, and
he's been to several Labor Notes conferences).
   The unions, not the ranks, are leading the current strikes. There are very
debilitating divisions between the leaderships of the union federations,
particularly between the CFDT leadership which is not supporting the
strikes and the other federations.  The CFDT leadership is very much a
minority but it's in control.
   The rank&file are united.
   A general assembly of the railroad workers is scheduled for Friday, Dec.
15.  Since the government has withdrawn its plan for the railroads, it's
feared that the railroad workers will end their strike, isolating the
public workers at whom the Juppe plan's cutting back Social Security is
currently aimed.
   The next big demo has been moved up from Sunday the 17th to Saturday
the 16th.