There were 150,000 demonstrators (police estimate) in Paris alone. Maybe 50 more demonstrations throughout the country. The strikes were mostly concentrated in public sectors, such as public transport and teachers have been particularly active.
In parallel there has been a series of very large demonstrations (hundreds of thousands by police estimate) by high school students over the last several months against a draft law to reform the education system. (How do you say No Child Left Behind in French?) They have repeatedly produced large numbers in the face of bitter cold weather the last few weeks.
Paul
Joanna writes:
>My sister just returned from Paris and reports that there's a nation-wide?
>city-wide? transport strike that has shut everything down. She missed her
>plane, almost twice.
>
>Apparently, transportation workers are striking for the continuation of
>the 35 hour week and of benefits -- health care, pensions, etc.
>
>Nice to know there's an organized working class somewhere. It's funny; I
>checked Le Monde and there's nothing in it about the strike, but my sister
>says the city was completely paralyzed.
>
>Joanna
>
>
>
>
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