[PEN-L:2393] Re: Le Monde Diplomatique article on French strikes

[bill mitchell <ECWFM@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>
>     What is the significance of this extraordinary revolt?
>It is the first collective rebellion, on a national level,
>against neo-liberalism. It is epoch-making. Beginning in mid-
>November as an almost corporatist reaction of the public
>service to the planned reform of the social security system,
>the protests immediately received overwhelming support from
>the general public - a striking new development.


this was an interesting article but mentioned nothing of the
outcomes of the extraordinary revolt. that is, the majority of
the juppe reforms were passed by the french government
soon after one of the participants
in the strike (transport workers) were "bought off" by having their
pension benefits restored.

in other words, the "corporatist" reaction was "bankrupted" as one
of the groups privatised the struggle and left the rest (the weakest)
hanging.

kind regards
bill
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