Day 7 of La Grève and Everybody’s Getting In On the Action
November 20th, 2007by Rebecca Adler
PARIS, FRANCE-
Waiting at a stop light the other day, I saw a bus stop and begin letting people out even though there was no bus stop marked at that corner.
A group of about 20 business people got off and began crossing the street in front of me. One by one they began to gain speed, until they were running en groupe to the other side of the street where they all made a right turn and continued to run, holding their scarves and hats against the wind.
Just as the light turned green I saw what it was they were all running toward.
It was the approaching bus, and likely their last chance to make it to work reasonably close to the time they were to have started working.
Women and men dressed in full work attire — suits, ties, heels, skirts, and overcoats — can be seen all over the city walking en masse or using the now indispensable vélibs.
Yesterday I saw a man standing at a bus stop with his thumb out, hoping to catch a ride from some other lonely commuter.
But he wasn’t having much luck.
In front of a super-sized Monoprix, a Wal-Mart-like store, there was a row of taxis waiting to pick up encumbered shoppers.
Transportation and energy workers have been on strike all over France since November 14th.
That means only a few buses and metro lines are working and the trains are pretty much non-existent.
But the French seem to take it all in stride.
They’ve all managed somehow to make it to work despite the major change in their daily routines.
Although they don’t sit quietly and wait it out.
On Sunday in Paris there was a protest against the strike.
It’s now day seven of the strike, but today the traffic seemed a bit lighter.
Perhaps because there were a lot more people striking today. Not only were the transportation workers on strike, as they have been for the past 7 days, but today was a one day strike for the entire public sector.
STRIKE SALE: ONE DAY ONLY.
About 58 percent of public school teachers and 40 percent of public workers, along with air traffic controllers, newspaper distributors, students and energy workers were on strike today.
I don’t know what they accomplished in one day that can’t be accomplished by the transport workers in one week, but it must have been worth the extra day off.
The good thing about French strikes though is that they’re scheduled. Everyone can plan ahead.
Even so, it does put a strain on everything.
Teachers and students can’t make it to class on time. Restaurants, retail shops, and even the library have been closing at about 6 p.m. to give their workers the opportunity to make it home before 10 p.m.
This means if you wait too long to buy your bread for the day, you may be out of luck.
It took me nearly 3 hours to take one of the boys to school the other day. Normally it takes 30 minutes.
Strike mode makes me grateful for my car.
I can’t imagine what it must be like for all the tourists still in the city, their beautiful honeymoons ruined by politics.
I drove past the Eiffel Tower today. It was completely deserted.
No wonder the strike is costing the city an estimated $600,000 per day.
But Sarkozy says he’s not backing down. He’s only been in office a short time so he needs to show strength. And anyway, according to the polls, most French people are behind him.
That is unless it’s their pensions getting cut. Or their university being reformed.
Reform is never easy. And I’m not sure about all of the facts on this. Everyone I speak to says something different about the strikes.
Some people say Sarkozy wants to raise the minimum work week (from 35 hours to 40) and cut back on holidays.
But the news is reporting that it’s the pensions that are really upsetting energy and transport workers. Apparently there’s been some loophole in the law that allows some workers (I’m guessing energy and transport workers) to retire earlier than all other state workers. Basically Sarkozy just wants to close that little loophole.
He does want to cut back holidays and raise the minimum work week as well. And perhaps the French are worried that this pension loophole is just the first step.
I don’t know about you guys, but if I had a 35-hour work week and eight weeks of paid vacation every year, I don’t think I’d let it go without a fight.
And fight they will.
Although, word on the street is the strike will be finished by the end of the week.
Negotiations may start tomorrow…
Hi Rebecca,
I really like the photo at the start of this. I can’t say exactly why, but I do. Maybe it’s the shades of gray.
If I had a 35-hour work week and eight weeks of paid vacation every year I’d fight tooth and nail for it. I’m not sure why Americans don’t fight more for that kind of schedule.
Maybe because reform is never easy.
I didn’t know anyone was striking right now in France. Thanks for clueing me in.
That new picture is so precious I couldn’t ever even read the post!
I’ll try again~
Hey Rebecca:
Since RK has left town it’s so nice to see that you are there with your finger on the pulse of Paris.
In the words of the Andrea True Connection: “More, more, more!”
It’s strike season. Writers. Buses. Writers on buses. Thanks for the report, Rebecca.
Lara: I thought it may have made headlines in the U.S. by now since it’s pretty much closed down most of the country here…but then again most international news doesn’t make it to the front page in the U.S….
Almost Midnight: Thanks! I’m glad you like the new pic
Rich: I’m trying, but RK definitely had a better inside source than me.
Emma: I wonder who will go on strike next? I just hope it’s not the police.
my sepia friend -
someone wants the French to work?
Mon dieu!
You must fight this revolution with all that it within you! Perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this….
If not for yourself, then for the children -
(i am of french heritage, my grandmother still speaks French primarily. Actually a 35 hours work week seems excessive. that includes a 3 hour lunch daily.)
RA:
Thanks for the update on les grèves…
I was there in ‘95, the last time the city went into total shutdown mode… Somewhere I have a photo I took of a metro poster put up welcoming commuters back at the end of the three-week strike. It said something like, “Welcome Back”, and angry Parisians had scrawled underneath, “Where were you for the three weeks when we needed you?” and “Merde aux grèvistes!”
RK
Hey, Bex, What’s the point of driving a kid to school if it takes three hours? I don’t know.
And yeah, 8 weeks of vacation is worth fighting over, IMO. But then, I’ve always preferred vacations to actual work, lazy American that I am.
RK: Ugh, I certainly hope this doesn’t last three weeks…but they did decide today that they’re going to continue striking at least until next Tuesday.
Kaytie: Well, it only takes 1.5 hours for the kids because they’re only in the car for half the ride. Lucky kids.
sorry it took me so long to get to reading this…i’ve been out of town.
anyway, i’m glad you have a car there. this is a change for you, yes?
Sarkozy is an idiot. Part of the reason the French people seem to enjoy life more than Americans is because they have shorter work days and they get those long vacations. Thus, life is much more relaxed and not so crazy. Americans are working more now than ever in our history and people are more irritable, angry, etc. than ever before as well. And we’re also fairly unhappy in general as a society. Who cares about keeping up with the Joneses when you die of a heart attack at age 55?