How to speak French -- strike style

Since France is deep in strike season, with transport still disrupted and the civil service stopping work this week, it's time to visit the jargon of French labour conflict.

The main feature is euphemism  --  a strike is a "social movement" for example. This masks unpleasant reality and confers legitimacy. Regulars here might recall my French political glossary last year.

A frustrated commuter's guide to French "social conflict".

base (la) = the base, workers who won't stop striking even when the union calls it off

barrage filtrant (le) = filter roadblock, when pickets or "militants" disrupt passage or access to non strikers and public

blocage (le) = shut-down, done to universities by militants

bras de fer (le) = arm wrestle, trial of strength = ritual which ends when government surrenders to la rue (see below)

coagulation (la) = fusion of protesting trades, feared by government (une coagulation de mécontentements, le Monde last week)

colère (la) = anger = emotion, always legitimate, justifies blocage, barrage filtrant etc. (ex: les routiers en colère ont bloqué l'autoroute (protesting truck drivers stopped traffic on the ring road).

conflit social (le) = strike or threatened strike

coordination (la) = wild-cat strikers who have given up on unions.

crever = to croak, die of exhaustion or hunger = fate awaiting workers if they don't win strike/protest

crise (la) = state that France believes it is living in since mid-1980s 

droit acquis (le) = acquired right = privilege. eg: retirement at 55 ("One must never give up acquired rights" President Francois Mitterrand, 1992)

flexibilité (la) = giving up acquired right, cause for social movement, dirty word (see blairisme), government-preferred alternative: la souplesse

galère, la = galley (as in slave) = ordeal suffered by les usagers (the public).("Une autre journée de galère.." = standard opening of morning radio news.)

grand soir (le) = great evening = overthrow of capitalist system, result of la lutte finale (see below). Usually negative, to profess moderation (ex: We are not dreaming of le grand soir, just defending our rights. Bernard Thibault, boss of CGT union)

grève (la) = strike, basic human right

grève reconductible (la) = renewable strike, extended by daily afternoon vote, way of torturing l'usager (see below)

grèviculteur (le) = promoter of strikes, coined this week by CGT rail union from agriculteur (farmer)

grogne (la) = rumbing discontent, presages mouvement social

lutte (la) = struggle, always noble, often synonymous with la galère

militant (le) = member of minority, devoted to la lutte, blocage etc.

mobilisation (la) = stopping work

mouvement social (le) = strike (ex: En raison d'un mouvement social, tout le service sur la ligne 9 est interrompu. Metro announcement. "Due to a social movement, all service on line 9 has been suspended")

pagaille (la) = chaos, consequence of la mobilisation

partenaires sociaux (les) =  employers and unions, adversaries

pénibilité du travail (la) = tough job in state sector, rewarded with droits acquis

plan social (le) = job redundancies

rue (la) = the street, opposition to government, usually wins

social = industrial relations

solidarité (la) = supporting a worthy cause. (ex: Je suis solidaire avec le mouvement social = I don't mind waiting hours for a train because I support the strike)

syndicat (le) = trade/labour union, array of rival bodies to which eight percent of French workers belong

Thatcherisation (la) = horror, fate to be averted with lutte, mobilisation, etc. (see political glossary)

usager (le) = passenger, customer, victim [pictures top and below]

Comments

[Joan B]

Very funny, Charles. We were all laughing out loud at your definitions. Not so funny if you're freezing on the quai...

[Dominique]

These definitions are quite accurate and describe things. What is funny about it?

[Eleanor]

It's funny because they're not literal translations - they're translations which reflect the attitude to strikes, for example "colère (la) = anger = emotion, always legitimate."

[Sterling]

As a Canadian who has been living in France for 10 years, I also didn't find this list funny. I hear this oxymoronic newspeak every day and I find it manipulative and surreal. How can stopping work be called a mouvement? How can two sides who have hated each other for at least a couple of centuries be called partenaires? How can the fringe be called the base?

[Jorg Andersen]

Of course it is not just the French who use this fake language about "social partners" and "social movements". It's Germanic and Scandinavian too, but not to such a hypocritical extent as in France. I love the idea of taking millions of commuters hostage in order to keep the "droit acquis" to retire at 50 or 55 years old, subsidised by all the other tax-payers, sorry, I mean usagers.

[Valentin]

Sterling,
Living in France for 10 years, you certainly know the French only speak in euphemisms. Saying words like "hate" or "strike" is not done, because of their possibly negative interpretations.

Also, Rocket might tell you that one should be careful not to "affoler les français" (not from the truth either).

Also, the French anger (colère) is never a negative, ugly feeling, but saint indignation towards injustice (therefore, as CB says, always legitimate).
Can be exasperating or funny - according to the foreigner's mood :)

[rocket]

Dominique

"These definitions are quite accurate and describe things. What is funny about it?"

Just figured you out too. You're one of these "hypersensible" frenchies qui ne voit que subterfuge partout.

Aussi connu sous le nom des "nonistes"

Sterling

"How can two sides who have hated each other for at least a couple of centuries be called partenaires? How can the fringe be called the base?"

It's called.

"Il ne faut pas effrayer les français"

[rocket]

Valentin

MENTAL TELEPATHY!!!!!

TOO COOL!

I just wrote what you said I would and published seconds before your post came up.

Wow. Do you know what the French fear well or what!

[Robert Marchenoir]

One note about "gréviculteurs". The word has been quoted recently by a CGT boss, but he certainly did not invent it.

He used it in a prophylactic way, in order to defuse usual objections raised at strike-prone unions.

I cannot tell you exactly who coined the word in the first place, but it has been in use for quite a few years now by those who oppose this culture of regular strikes by the public sector.

[Actu75]

Heard it repeteadly during a talk show on Europe 1 yesterday: there are more strikes in the UK (as well as in Germany or Denmark) than in France.
Info ou intox? (Facts or Fake?)

[rocket]

CB

You forgot

"prendre ses responsablités"

Par exemple chaque partenaire social doit "prendre ses responsablités"

Which basically means

cause toujours tu m'intéresses

PS - ce n'est pas la base mais la baaaase avec always pronounced "titi parisien" accent entre un morceau de Paaain et fromage et un merguez cuit avec les comrades en lutte. Lest we forget le vin et la gitane clope

Mais ne dis pas à ma femme que je bois quoi. Elle pense que j'ai arreté.(conversation de bistrot)

[marine]

Very nice piece Charles, thank you.

Striking is indeed a very well developed tool here, with all kind of reffined variants.
Farmers may put cowshit in front of a prefecture, truck drivers can block roads, and EDF guys cut the power (but only in a symbolic way, I guess. I never heard of EDF depriving usagers of heat and light). A bit of mayhem.
At least once a year the sncf is on strike, at least once a year students demonstrate. Against Le Pen in the old days, against diverse governmental ideas to reduce youth unemployment, against what make them angry...and a bit romantic.
Perhaps it's only rituals. A inconscious celebration of the congés payés.

[Jack Kessler]

Defending Dominique, and other "hypersensible frenchies"... You have to view the humor here with "foreign" eyes, Dominique. Bremner's list is _very_ funny, and devastating to its targets, but only to someone very familiar with the British sense of humor: "on ironise", but in a British way, not at all Voltaire's sarcasms.

Easiest thing for you to do is to go back over the list looking for the humor / entendre double in each line: it's there, but you do have to search. Qua Yankee I've had to do this in the past with both Monty Python & Le Canard Enchaine.

Jack Kessler, kessler@well.com
San Francisco

[Actu75]

Rocket
The hardest stronghold of the CGT Cheminots is in Marseille. There it would not be la baaaaase but la baseuuuuuu. And specially in the south -where many pieds noirs settled- a merguez is une merguez.
Do you have others "brèves de comptoirs" (rather than conversations de bistrot)? -can't beleiev you really stopped drinking-

[Ian McMorran]

Of course Charles Bremner has hit the nail on the head. He is perhaps a little too young, however, to realise how far back the French predilection for the word "crise" goes: I can remember drawing French student friends' attention to the fact that the word figured very often in the titles of books displayed in Latin Quarter bookshops back in the sixties.Funny how in English as in French "industrial action" and "mouvement social" actually mean the opposite of what a Martian might expect. Strange too that about the only time one hears public service unions talk about "le service public" is when they are not providing any, due to their preoccupation with their own interests As for student occupation of universities, it's been going on so long and so regularly every Autumn that I once suggested to my French colleagues in Paris that it was on the way to being recognized officially as an annual public holiday.

[Sigognac]

Camarade gets also used a lot.

[teresa]

so it took me 3 and a half hours to get into university this morning, and it was a child on the train who summed up everyone's feelings: 'but why?' everyone started laughing and nothing seemed half as bad! thank to you charles i can now know all the strike jargon and gosh it will come in useful!

[Daniel Strohl]

Actu75,

"can't beleiev you really stopped drinking- !!

This morning on Europe I, the imitator Nicolas Canteloup, as he often does, made fun of Schivardi, whose car is fitted with an "éthylomètre". The "éthylomètre" has a pipe in one should blow for the measurment; but Schivardi blows in the pipe in order to boost the engine when he starts the car or when he needs more power.

He said that he was considering to buy another car, since the present one was having too big a consumption ...

PS for non French bloggers : Schivardi is a former "candidat à la présidentielle" - he comes from a wine region in southern France and speaks an almost incomprehensible French with a very strong accent ...

[Dominique]

The word "CRISE" was first used in 1973 when oil prices went up. That was the "premier choc pétrolier", the end of the "trente glorieuses" and the begining of the "crise économique". We never stopped using the word ever since. We even made a movie out of it : "La crise" wich was pretty good.

[Ingrid Lombard]

Eh bien... au moins cette galère (translation above) qui vient régulièrement empoisonner la vie des gens("travailleurs" aussi non?)qui doivent se déplacer pour aller bosser, et bosser pour vivre et payer leur retraite au prix fort (pas à 50 ou 55 ans celle-là!), aura au moins le mérite de distraire joyeusement à l'étranger!
Une action diplomatique réussie en quelque sorte... faute de mieux.

[eygh]

For whomever asked for international stats on striking days :

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lab_str-labor-strikes

France is not the N°1 country for strikes.

[rocket]

Actu

"Mais ne dis pas à ma femme que je bois quoi. Elle pense que j'ai arreté.(conversation de bistrot)"

I don't drink! That's what the classes laborieux (Men) say in the bars.

EYGH

Most likely true about number of strike days in France. But we need to be able to measure the effect on daily life, mobility etc. If the "chicken farmers" in Ireland go on strike every three days it is certainly less "penible" than the train, bus and metro in Paris and the rest of France.

[John Styx]

Eygh, interesting stats. Don't discriminate between state sector strikes and private sector strikes, though.

One of France's charms (ahem) is the habit of transportation services to go on strike every other day for all sorts of reasons. The RATP agents often go on strike when a ticket collector or a bus driver is attacked. That's the most frequent occurence of the celebrated announcement: 'en raison d'un mouvement social, le trafic est fortement perturbé...' RATP agents should have the right to work safely as every one of us, but how exactly are the 'usagers' responsible for these attacks?

[Elanora]

I'm in stitches! (and a true Parisian, born and raised...OK, maybe because this time the strikes don't affect me much, but still, I particularly enjoyed this new definition of "crever", not exactly a euphemism.
And as we say: "Il vaut mieux en rire qu'en pleurer"

[Patricia]

Love your articles Charles, thank you. How do I print from the page ? there is no printer version or printer link. Would especially like a copy of the French strike vocabulary.
Many thanks.
[Thanks Patricia. I think you can print it with the print button on your web browser. Or simply copy and print on Word or similar. But I'll ask the tech people. CB]

[Frank Schnittger]

Are you sure you're not being Sarkostic, CHARLES?

[James]

Very funny article, thank you Mr Bremner.
You could have added the term "non assuré", as in "trafic non assuré". It translates into: no trains at all anywhere on the line.
Is it really true that only eight percent of French workers are trade union members? Surely that must be eighty?

[Ros]

Valentin:
"Sterling,
Living in France for 10 years, you certainly know the French only speak in euphemisms" - maybe you're right but could you also be confusing the word euphemisms with the word "understatement" - I have never been able to find a one-word translation to explain to French people what the latter really means -
Does someone have an idea?

[Ros]

This video shows how well Charles illustrated the word "galère" in his last year's glossary -
http://www.lemonde.fr/web/panorama/0,11-0@2-3208,32-980213,0.html

[John Styx]

Ros, a good equivalent would be a 'litote', a term that is much more used in French than in English.

[Ingrid Lombard]

Sorry for not having had the courtesy of writing in English. I really do appreciate your humor, Charles - will you keep it even if the strikes go on?...You may find your desk in the dark to morrow thanks to EDF(Electricité de France) strikes... I hope you don't need gas to warm up your morning coffee, since GDF is joining the show too...

For what it is worth, here in your language my feelings about all this...
"Well … at least this ordeal - that on regular basis spoils the daily life of people (who are workers as well, no ?) who need to comute to get to their job, and work for a living and pay the full price for their retirement (not at age 50 or 55 !) does at least deserve the credit of entertaining people in other countries !
A successful act of diplomacy in a way… for lack of something better..

[Merci, Ingrid. Vous êtes parfaitement bilingue, je vois, mais si vous avez envie de contribuer en français, il n'y a pas le moindre problème. J'aimerais bien avoir plus de débat en français ici. CB]

[Daniel Strohl]

Patricia,

The most efficient way is to copy the article (with CTRL C, in the usual manner), then to paste it (with CTRL V) in your word processor, with which you can print it easily.

I am using Open Office, and the above procedure works fine. But it will surely work also with Word or Works and similar.

[jopo]

I've just heard "la météo sociale" on France Info.

[That's wonderful. I'll add it to the list. I had heard it in the past and forgotten it. It goes with climat social. Thank you. CB]

[Valentin]

Ros, John,

Can be any one of them, I prefer euphemism because most often it's not just putting things mildly etc, but precisely avoiding the *negative* side (to words, situations, people etc). This being the goal, any figure of speech leading there can be used - indeed the French excel in that exercise.

[Valentin]

Most of us here understand French, Ingrid, I wouldn't worry about it. Post away ! :)

[Valentin]

Re understatement:
things seem to be finer than I thought:
understatement is the opposite of exaggeration, and it can be a litote when used ironically.
euphemism can be used as mild, toned-down language, but it comes straight from the greek expression "good speaking", as in, putting the thing in a good light, no matter how ugly or negative it is -that was the version I knew, I didn't know it can also be synonymous to understatement.

[Daniel Strohl]

John,

"Ros, a good equivalent would be a 'litote', a term that is much more used in French than in English".

Yes. However, I am afraid that the word "litote" does not exist in the standard (and often basic-only) vocabulary of the hard liner unions...

They tend most of the time to mix up words with vaguely parent meanings. For instance, the CGT bosses speak always of "négociations", whereas the appropriate word would be "revendications", since they are never willing to offer any counterpart whatsoever to the concessions made by the government or the employers.

This morning, Didier le Reste, boss of the SNCF CGT union, coined a new concept (at least for me) : he said he wanted to enforce « un socle revendicatif commun ». Bigre ! May be this distinguished gentleman will make it up to the Académie Française, since he seems to have got right now the difference between « négociations » and « revendications ». The government's negociators did possibly help him to improve his perception of the meaning of words ...

PS : Charles, « socle revendicatif commun » may be too sophisticated for your « simple-minded » glossary (and readers) ...

[Emma]

Apparently, I'm on strike this week. Or so my university has informed me. Which considering the complaint against the loi Pécresse by my criminologie professor was that it would make universites too anglo-saxon... sorry, how much are you planning on charging students again?

More time to fill in my vac. scheme application forms, I suppose.

[Speed Racer]

Valentin

Tôi chỉ biết nói tiếng việt.

[Denis McKee]

Great stuff, Charles, as usual, but haven't you forgotten the terme "négocier", which in Union-speak means for the other 'partenaire' to surrender and give in to union demands?
What about "rapport de forces", marxist catch phrase to signify we must be stronger than the other side?
Keep on entertaining us with you thoughtful comments;
Much better than what I read on the French on-line press.

[Actu75]

Rocket
Désolé mais à lire certains de tes commentaires j'ai parfois comme l'impression que tu as quelque peu forcé sur le jaja.
(Puisque le Maitre de ce blog encourage la francophonie, je ne me gêne plus) D'ailleurs... what about having here some kind of equivalent of the "quart d'heure américain" (girls inviting boys for a danse), with the hypersensible French and the hyperrealistic "Anglo saxons" arguing for some extent in French? (Of course I'm not sugesting ANY kind of bureaucratical regulation here...)

[Sigognac]

Hello,
you could also have included "Mesurette", ie an off the cuff reform designed to polarise the opinion, that does not do very much, but will look good on the headlines.

[John Styx]

Hm, Daniel, things are a bit more complicated than that. I work in HR in France. It's my job to negotiate with local unions concerning pay raises, profit-sharing schemes for employees ("participation" and "intéressement") and so on.

Union leaders usually have (and should have!) a fine grasp of the meaning of words. Every player in a negotiation knows what they must ask for, what they are willing to concede and what they must stay adamant about (the celebrated "socle de revendications"). Different unions have different agendas. It happens frequently that one of them (say, CGT or SUD) appears uncompromising, whereas another (say, CFDT or CFE-CGC) seems to play the game. It's all about tactics.

I don't have any experience of high-level negotiations, but I talked recently with a couple of people who are negotiating at Matignon. They're not worried about the CGT confederation leaders. They're worried about the "base" and unions such as SUD. There has been for a few years a definite radical streak in French unionism, akin to far-left parties and to groups such as Droit au Logement. Those people wouldn't recognize a compromise if it were biting them in the leg.

[john o'doe]

Let's not forget that government employees have now joined the strikes to show their discontent with the government's failure to improve "le pouvoir d'achat" which is another euphemism

[Ros]

Valentin
Of course I was wrong, explained as you do, euphemism cannot also be used as "synonymous to understatement". On the other hand, I must be one of the "simple-minded" readers Daniel mentions as I don't think of "understatement" as used in a Union or political sense - only in it's very simple and almost childish meaning, e.g. "How are you?","Very well thank you" when you are just going into hospital or similar.
Thank you John and Daniel for the word "litote" - ignorantly ignored by me even in english! But it does seem to me to be more literary than conversationalist - at least in english I've never heard it spoken.
I don't know if anyone goes into the BBC Radio4 Message Board - http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbradio4/F2766781 - "Word of mouth" is quite interesting but a bit pedantic all the same!

[John Styx]

Ros, a litotes is, as you know, a figure of speech in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary. The most famous litotes in French must be Chimène's line in Corneille's "Le Cid": "va, je ne te hais point" (=I love you).

It's often used in conversational French in a way that completely defeats the purpose. Typical example: "ce n'est pas une lumière, et c'est une litote" ("he's not so bright, and that's an understatement").

[em]

I think that it's very simplistic to say that the strikers are striking because they want to stop work at 55. That's not what the government is saying -they are saying that they have to work for longer, pay higher retirement dues and then receive less when they do retire (later) Who would agree with that?!

[Ros]

John
Many thanks for these interesting details - one keeps on learning (even at my age)! I'm going to try it out in some french conversation....

[Daniel Strohl]

John,

"Hm, Daniel, things are a bit more complicated than that".

Of course. But I couldn't resist to make some persiflage.

"They're worried about the "base" and unions such as SUD"

Yes - but this is "l'arroseur arrosé" (je parle de certains syndicats) - la base prend maintenant au mot certains leaders qui leur ont dit et répété pendant des années des slogans du style "les patrons peuvent payer " - "y a qu'à prendre l'argent là ou "elle" est" etc. appuyés d'ailleurs en semi-sourdine (je suis content de la trouvaille !) par certains politiciens de gauche ... Ces derniers feraient d'ailleurs bien de rester discrets en attendant que la droite fasse ou essaye de faire "le sale boulot" qu'il faudra faire dans tous les cas. Et plus on attend, plus cela sera douloureux ...

Les leaders syndicaux, et notamment ceux de la CGT, se rendent bien compte que l'affaire est mal engagée pour tout le monde, et peut-être même surtout pour eux, et qu'il faudrait arriver à un compromis en lâchant un peu de lest (notamment les 40 ans).

Mais ils n'ont plus d'influence sur la frange dure du mouvement, car comme vous l'avez dit fort justement : "Those people wouldn't recognize a compromise if it were biting them in the leg".

[Daniel Strohl]

EM,

"they are saying that they have to work for longer, pay higher retirement dues and then receive less when they do retire (later) Who would agree with that?!

Ordinary French and even the civil servants have or had to agree for just that a few years back. But they did not have the blackmail means (sorry, Maggie ...) used by our "services publics de la SNCF et de la RATP" to resist to any change. May be that they did not resist also because most (myself included) of them understood that the world and the economic situation are changing and that they are not living "dans une bulle qui les protège, y compris des effets de la démographie".

[Rick]

Thank you for the list, Charles. One is so often reminded of George Orwell's Newspeak. One of my favourites is the 'assemblée générale', 'AG', that wonderfully democratic occasion where everybody who has not yet returned to work, votes to carry on the strike.

[Valentin]

"Of course I was wrong, explained as you do, euphemism cannot also be used as "synonymous to understatement""

Ros,
what I said was precisely that I thought you were wrong, but you actually weren't, sometimes euphemism means nearly the same thing as understatement, so you were right to assume that sometimes I confuse the two.
It wasn't so much to correct you but rather myself :)

Sorry if my etymological details bothered anyone ! (A)

[Sandrine]

"Ces derniers feraient d'ailleurs bien de rester discrets en attendant que la droite fasse ou essaye de faire "le sale boulot" qu'il faudra faire dans tous les cas."

WOW, maybe the stupidest thing I've read in a long time... You're right Daniel, who needs the opposition ? What's its exact purpose ? I mean who is the dumb fool who invented the concept of the opposition ? The PEUPLE voted for Sarko and his clique so why allowing the Left to even SAY something against his sacro-saintes réformes ??

Come on y'all wouldn't it be great if there would only be the UMP in France ? And why vote anyway... Let's ask Sarko to be president FOR LIFE. Whatever he does or says is soooo good for the country that it would be unnecessary and a waste of time to even LISTEN TO whatever other people MIGHT try to say...

Oh God, now I'm sick just imagining all that !!

[John Styx]

Why Rick, don't you think show-of-hands is a perfectly democratic voting system? I mean, who needs ballots and secrecy of the votes? "Militants" have nothing to hide and should boldly express their opinion in front of their comrades.

Actually I'd like to suggest labour and student unions an even more democratic system: loudest applause, like in Sparta -- a city much admired by some of France's finest thinkers during the Age of Enlightenment.

[Max Torregrossa]

Vous avez oublié :
Ras-le-bol
Plein le Cul
Font chier
Etc
Vulgaire peut-être, mais oh ! combien vrai.

[stephen Bull]

In times of strikes we are used to "no negotiations before a return to work" but in France it seems that negotiations require "une dynamique de reprise sur le terrain" Coming from Mme Idrac of the SNCF this is presumably ENA-speak for the same thing but it does sound more alluring.

Only 30% of the French civil servants are useful to the country. Everybody knows it but nothing's been done. Now 60% of the population decided to back up the reforms, I truly hope Sarko won't give up as France may well go down the drain, and this time for good.

[Daniel Strohl]

Sandrine,

"WOW, maybe the stupidest thing I've read in a long time..."

Thanks, I am really pleased to be the best, even if it is in stupidity - LOL !

Sandrine, what I wanted to say is that there is no means to ignore the consequences of demography; most of our neighbours have already taken appropriate steps, some of them since years. The average retirement age there is about 65 years, i.e 5 years more than in France (one of the reasons is may be that the « pyramide des âges » in these countries is even worse than in our's).

The 50/55 system is a real anomaly, which can not anymore be justified by « la pénibilité du travail » and furthermore, which would be more and more difficult to finance. However, one possible solution would be to keep the 50/55 system, but to reduce the pensions proportionally, i.e drastically ! – I do not know any politician willing to explain this solution to the « régimes spéciaux » members and willing to enforce it through law ...

Sarkozy and the government have no other choice than to go on and to work out a compromise – nobody should « perdre la face », but decisions have to be made and enforced. It is no more possible to postpone decisions, as it has been done in the past by various governments, socialist gov. included.

The socialists are in the opposition and want to come back « aux affaires ». They have a fair chance for this, but not through demagogy, otherwise they will have big credibility problems. And if they arrive « aux affaires », it would be much better for them (and for our country) if our social laws would have been meanwhile adapted to the economic situation. Sarkozy and his team are just trying to do this. It is painful, but necessary.

Of course, and fortunately, we live in a democracy. Therefore, it is always possible for the opposition to propose alternative solutions (Sarkozy is not the pope, and is therefore not infallible and irremovable).

Regarding the specific case above, I didn't hear many credible alternative ideas. My opinion is that if one has no intelligent and feasible idea to propose, one should stay silent (may be I should apply this maxim to myself in the first place ...).

[Daniel Strohl]

John,

"loudest applause, like in Sparta"

I didn't know this voting system - probably along with most of the union bosses and members, "étudiants prolongés" included ...

May be we could also suggest to the students to be more "laconic" in the "Assemblées Générales" ... They seem sometimes to suffer from aggravated logorrhea.

[Marguerite.]

Moi aussi je le trouve marrant et instructif, le glossaire des greves de Charles B.

[christopher muir]

Like many long haul travellers, here's one French word that can stop my heart beating: les aiguilleurs. At a time of strikes it can signal a forthcoming nightmare.

[V. Destanque de Californie]

Ouaf!
Out the Old, in the New!! Sarko is not getting the support he is entitled. After all, he was elected by "le peuple" and that should count for something, right?
The euphemists cannot be French, so stop trying. Y'en a plein les bottes de tous ces faux-culs ! Excuse my French. Wake up to news ideas, change is good; however, it takes a little work and lots of courage. It is not what you look at, it is HOW you look at it..

Mr. Styx,

Sparta did it by who made the most noise, nothing to do with show of hands. Also, who in the French Enlightenment admired Sparta for other than its military discipline and fortitude? Athens, Thebes, Korinthos and the Attican city-states were usually held up as the models of political system and fairness.

[Guillaume]

I'm french and I completly agree with these definitions. In my opinion you missed negiciation (la) : new concept from union. State or companies should ceed, pay the strikers the days that should not be paid and only then strikers can think about going back to work.

[Eleanor, Sèvres]

What absolutely drives me up the wall about "les mouvements sociaux" is that they are not a last resort, following the break-down of negotiations, but the opening gambit, as if even the mere idea of the government daring to suggest reforms is cause for riots.

I find it completely adolescent "I don't even know what you're saying, but I'm going to storm out anyway."

Grow the hell up and get to the negotiating table like adults so the rest of us can get to work on time.

[Sandrine]

"(may be I should apply this maxim to myself in the first place ...)."
Ahem, lol, I'll let you the only judge for that...

"(Sarkozy is not the pope, and is therefore not infallible and irremovable).

Lol et relol ! Are you sure about that ? Because when I read the press (except maybe Marianne, best newsmagazine ever !) it's not the impression I have. Even Le Monde said in another editorial that the people had elected Sarko to reform the country so the "grévistes" should understand that and let him be. Sorry I've got to take your title back to give it to this journalist, THAT is maybe the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time...

So the guy was elected on the idea of reforming the country. Which means OF COURSE that whatever he proposes is good, so everybody should just sh... up while the Grand Master is doing his job ! I can't believe how people can be so blind. If you remember, Ségo made a lot of fuss in her own party because she was proposing many things completely different and new, but NO, for everybody else she was just an old elephant : same ol' same ol' !

While it was obvious even to me (as far away as I am) that she was different and she wanted to reform the country too. But in another way, maybe by trying not to insult the fonctionnaires everytime she opens her mouth for example, that would have been a good change for once !

We're not monsters and we certainly don't earns millions every month. There are a lot of fonctionnaires who have many problems to make ends meet, maybe it's hard for some people to understand or even recognize that, but it's true. When I was in France, it was very difficult for me.

So when I hear our Chef bien-aimé say that he understands the fonctionnaires and that if they accept to reduce their number he'll gonna raise their salaries, I'm all for that ! Which, yeah I know, will certainly never happen. Mais bon, tout le monde sait que "les promesses n'engagent que les gogos qui les reçoivent" !

It's true that we have automatic raises, it depends on our "ancienneté". I'm happy because I got one this year : 20 euros ! Booyah, I'm gonna buy lollipops to my daughter ! The next raise will likely happen in 3 or 4 years, it just shows how "PRIVILEGIES" we are !!!

"Regarding the specific case above, I didn't hear many credible alternative ideas. "

Yep, as I told Valentin once, the press will only allow very tiny places to the opposition. That's sad, but that's the way it is. Vous êtes donc moins enclin à ensuite les prendre au sérieux ! Et puis, avouez que n'avez de toute façon pas envie d'entendre ce que la Gauche a à dire puisque vous savez déjà que ça ne va pas vous plaire !

[Morgan Portales SW7]

The following light-hearted quote I was sent this morning by a French friend of mine does not reflect my personal thoughts about the crisis that's gripping the country at the moment. I just thought I'd lighten up the mood with one of Coluche's aphorisms : )

Coluche, disait en parlant des grévistes :

« Ils ont tellement l'habitude de ne rien foutre, qu'une grève, ils appellent cela une journée d'action!!! »

Yes - "journée d'action" should definitely be in the list CB : )

Hope your day's overbrimming with smiles.

PS - btw, very nice piece this morning in The Times

[Edward Johns]

"Sparta did it by who made the most noise, nothing to do with show of hands."
Bearing in mind the hero-worship afforded to the brave rioters of 1968 how about a system whereby the side that burns the most cars belonging to innocent parties wins ?

[Valentin]

"the press will only allow very tiny places to the opposition. That's sad, but that's the way it is. Vous êtes donc moins enclin à ensuite les prendre au sérieux"

Sandrine, I assure you "we" do try to take seriously the opposition, despite the occasional jokes about the PS being on its way out.
That's what I tried to show when I told you that I like new people like Valls, even if they clearly belong to the left.
Liberation, Humanité and even Le Monde would not hesitate to support some new idea from PS.
IF THERE WAS ANY !

[un euphemiste]

M Destanque,
y'en a aussi qui le sont et qui parfois éprouvent de la honte à cause de cela, alors...

[azloon]

france can't seem to decide whom it hates/distrusts more: the strikers or sarkozy.

but this 'lesser of two evils' syndrome is not unique to france. it seems to infect most western democracies these days. politics can't seem to get ahold of increasingly complex social issuses. gridlock is the order of the day.

i think we are all getting what we deserve.

but on balance, i prefer reading about france's woes to considering our own in the u.s.

enjoy your thanksgiving, even if you don't have one. if finding anything to be thankful for seems a stretch as you bicycle or 'velib' in the rain, look a little harder: how about free cars coming soon?

:)

[Sandrine]

"Grow the hell up and get to the negotiating table like adults "

Yep, except when the government says the law is ready and there's nothing to negotiate... What do they do in that case ?

"Liberation, Humanité and even Le Monde would not hesitate to support some new idea from PS"

L'humanité and Libé ? I don't know as I never read those newspapers. But Le Monde ? Its journalists are trying their best not to show how they adore Sarko ! Whenever the left tries to say something, it's crushed ! They don't give them any chance, so don't tell me that they're from the left. Their readers are from the left, that's for sure, but them ? I doubt it...

Azloon,
Good to see you back !! Happy thanksgiving to you too ! What are you gonna eat for this big meal ?

[Daniel Strohl]

Sandrine,

"Sorry I've got to take your title back to give it to this journalist"

Pas de chance pour moi, pour une fois que j'ai un titre ! LOL ! Grandeur et décadence !

Sandrine, regarding Sego, she has been more "torpedoed" by her "friends" than by her political "foes". And when she spoke with some irony (in private, but with a concealed micro running) of the "enseignants", most of them did not forgive her this "crime de lèse-majesté enseignante".

The other day, she said that she approved the autonomy of the universities, which was a good idea, provided that the necessary financing would be made available. I am not sure that this will make her more popular; but even though she is right on this point – it is may be still a bit too early for the rather slow evolution (c'est une litote!) of the « militant » part of the « milieu enseignant et étudiant ».

Sandrine, I am not at all against the fonctionnaires – they are necessary and the greatest part of them make their job as well as they can. To have good « services publics » has a price. I am not against paying for it – provided that the service is « impeccable ». But this is obviously not the case right now at the SNCF and RATP, where 10 to 20 % of hard core « militants » sabotage the economy and also the reputation of their colleagues. And what gets me on the nerves since years are the « grèves rituelles au moment du changement d'horaires hiver-été et inversement » and the « guéguerres » (à nos frais) between the 8 (eight !) unions at the SNCF.

« When I was in France, it was very difficult for me ». I have no problem to believe this. But it is generally not much more easy « pour le privé ».

« pas envie d'entendre ce que la Gauche a à dire puisque vous savez déjà que ça ne va pas vous plaire ! »

En général, j'écoute toujours attentivement, et j'essaye ensuite de trier le bon grain de l'ivraie ... Ce n'est pas toujours évident au premier coup d'oeil, parce que nos politiciens ficellent assez habilement leur marchandise. Mais comme ils sortent presque tous des mêmes écoles (ou de la même école, pour être précis), ils ont des argumentations qui finissent par être éculées et transparentes ... En ce qui me concerne, j'ai une tendance à préférer le peu d'entre eux qui prennent des risques (physiques à l'occasion) à ceux qui se contentent de bien parler. Tous parlent d'ailleurs très bien, donc cela ne peut pas être un critère de choix ...

[thinknoworpaylater]

Daniel S. - I dont know why you are so resistant to Sandrines point of view. In a democracy there is bound to be an opposition. Functionaires are not generally well paid and will probably get less of an increase than the private sector as inflation advances (and it will). Extra-parliamentary resistance has always existed and is historically quite normal in Europe. It was the major factor in extending democracy, specifically the right to vote, in the 19th century in the U.K. The P.S. is certainly in disarray but people do experience difficulties directly in their lives even if there is no formal alternative in the existing party system. Expressing that difficulty (e.g. pouvoir d'achat) is their right and should be respected.

[Valentin]

"Expressing that difficulty (e.g. pouvoir d'achat) is their right and should be respected"

I find manifestating (let alone getting on strike) for the purchasing power as absurd and useless as marching for a rainless october or a mild winter.
So what do the marchers want? Money from the government? Not possible, it's a snake eating its tail. A law to force companies to lower their prices? Why not bring in Stalin, since we're at that.

Ohhh, but if it's about salary raises for the public service, higher taxes on capitalists and so on, THEY SHOULD SAY SO, instead of speaking in hypocritical euphemistic terms!

Anyway these are general politics issues that have been solved 6 months ago via free elections: people decided in favour of Sarkozy's program; he must try to implement it now, or else the same lefties will cry out about the lies and "void electoral talk".

[John Styx]

French civil servants do make an easy target for critics. True enough, they have a specific status that entails both benefits *and* downsides. Strangely enough, nobody ever speaks of them, and I'm not talking about money here.

A lot of private sector French workers enjoy industry-specific collective labour agreements, some of which can be extremely beneficial. The banking sector comes readily to mind. Other workers benefit from wealthy works council who provide cheap children holidays, babysitting facilities and all kind of perks like that.

All in all, it's true that fonctionnaires are not as privileged as people would think--or more exactly, there are a lot of privileged workers in France. Back to 1789, guys.

[Valentin]

"Back to 1789, guys"

except that back then, you could pinpoint'em "people's enemies" by their blood colour :)

[Daniel Strohl]

Thinknoworplaylater,

"Daniel S. - I dont know why you are so resistant to Sandrines point of view."

I listen to her point of view and of course respect it. But also of course, I have my point of view, based on already a few (!) decades of experience.

Two things are no good for the social relations in France :

- the exaggerate number of unions; they spend more time and energy fighting each others for membership increase than for the sake of the people they represent - this of course leads to demagogy in their demands to the government or the "patronat". This is counterproductive for the represented workers or civil servants.

- the votes "à main levée" where most of the time a minority "agissante" (et la plupart du temps "musclée") impose their will.

But thanks to TV, people are able to see at least partially what really happens right now. This does not encourage them to support a strike led by a hard core minority, which apparently "n'en a rien à foutre du service public et de leurs concitoyens - ce qui compte, c'est leur intérêt personnel - la retraite à 50 ans, quoi qu'il arrive".

"Expressing that difficulty (e.g. pouvoir d'achat) is their right and should be respected."

Yes, of course. I have no problem with that. But everything has limits - these limits have been trespassed often in the service public (mostly at the SNCF, but I remember also some EDF strikes in the past). The strikes were enforced by "votes à main levée" and most of the time also stopped with the same procedure. This can not continue in the same manner. We are in 2007, and a member of the UE, where normal social relations are the rule.

Regarding opposition, sure it is necessary. If there is no vigourous and intelligent opposition (but able to cooperate on vital matters), the party and the men in charge will tend to get "la grosse tête". This is no good.

[Actu75]

Of course the following is "hors sujet" and totally irrelevant. However...
In France the parisian metro and trains are (roughly) disorganised once a year by a massive strike.
In England the London Tube and trains are (roughly) disorganised 365 days a year. And there's even no need of a strike.
In France battalions of privileged civil servants make a waste of people's taxes.
In England one single civil servant is enough to make a waste of people's taxes and taxes' datas.

[Robert Marchenoir]

The great swindle of French civil sevants is to have us believe that every attempt at reforming the civil service is a personal insult to them, a proof of contempt and hatred, etc.

When you have swept these childish protests out of the way -- never mind that's several million adults acting like obnoxious teenagers, so you'll need a big broom and a strong arm, you are left with the second line of defense:

We're not really privileged in a material sense, see our wages, see this, see that.

This second class of objections is only marginally less childish that the first.

The problem, ladies and gentlemen, is not your little egos, for which, frankly, we do not care much either way (although we would appreciate not to be treated like shit when interacting with you, since we happen to pay your wages).

It's not even your pay, retirement age, work schedule, holidays or whatever, which are certainly very interesting to you, but which take a disproportionate amount of airtime compared to other people's similar, and every bit as legitimate problems.

It's the sheer number of you.

You're waaay too many.

You cost us an arm and a leg.

Even if you toiled like slaves ten hours a day for the minimum wage -- which you do not, believe me -- you would still be an unsufferable luxury for the nation through the huge collective cost you represent.

Nothing personal, I'm sure you realize.

So grow up, for a change, and stop whining. It's been a nice ride up to now. Everything has an end. Say thank you to papa and mama, and step graciously out of the merry-go-round.

[Martin]

Never mind Sparta. The initial 'voting' in the British House of Commons is done by shouting. Only if the Speaker (a sort of chairman or woman) is not sure of the outcome is a full and formal vote taken

[Tatiana]

I'm a french student and the irony you show in your post is, though quite funny, I must recognize, frightenning me, because there are lots of errors. We are now fighting against a government which wants to make from France another "United States". We can't afford a £4500 per year university ! We do not "bloque" to get some extra holidays !
Ah yes, I would like you to know that students regularly VOTE for the "blocage", and they aren't all "militants". They just do not want Sarkozy to do in France what Thatcher did in England...
And just because you could not manage to defeat her doesn't mean you have to despise us !

[Ros]

Sandrine

"Their readers are from the left, that's for sure, but them ? I doubt it..." - Le Monde is Centre Right or Centre Left - as you like it- !? Same goes for their readers including me.

[Maggie G]

"I find manifesting (let alone getting on strike) for the purchasing power as absurd and useless as marching for a rainless october or a mild winter."
(Valentin)

This makes sense to me, and the rest of the stuff you said there too, Valentin.

I am just wondering, what exactly is the right to strike supposed to be about? What is the purpose of voting, and what is the purpose of striking? (that is, what is the difference between an election and a strike?) What exactly is the right to opposition supposed to mean?

I always thought that the 'loyal opposition' was mainly to do with free speech, freedom of the press etc -- the right to critisize the government (or ridicule it, as in the Guignols, Nicholas Canteloup, the Canard Enchainé etc), and even just the right for opposition parties to EXIST. Is the right to strike really supposed to be part of the POLITICAL process?

It does seem strange that immediately after an election we are having strikes over the same issues that were fought out in the election campaign.

Sandrine says, "Le Monde said in another editorial that the people had elected Sarko to reform the country so the "grévistes" should understand that and let him be..... THAT is maybe the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time..."

This makes me think it is time to have a discussion about what exactly the right to strike is supposed to mean. There was a very interesting discussion a month ago about freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is sacred to the Americans; the right to strike is sacred to the French.

We need some definitions of "strike".

Martin,

R U sure. I think the 2004 Parliament Act stopped the little used practice of 'assent' and made a division the automatic default.

[Lily]

I am in my second first year at a French university and wish to earn my degree via correspondence courses. The first first year started shortly before Christmas because the books weren’t printed yet. I was late with my reading – for obvious reasons - and decided to repeat the first year.

The second time around I already have my books (lucky me) but no student registration card that should allow me to look into course requirements or anything else that is provided online.

After the second DAY (!) of “le blocage” I received a message informing the prospective student that the registration processing time would exceed the normal four weeks by two additional WEEKS (!!) due to the strike. My waiting time was at seven weeks already.

My impatience is growing. –

I am upset.

But - it is also true that a cheap degree (good or bad? if only 25 % make it into the second year) still is a degree that you can build upon!

So, I will begin my second reading and hope that I will be allowed to sit my exams next summer. - Fortunately, the books cover most of the second year as well! –

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I'm a french student and the irony you show in your post is, though quite funny, I must recognize, frightenning me, because there are lots of errors. We are now fighting against a government which wants to make from France another "United States". We can't afford a £4500 per year university ! We do not "bloque" to get some extra holidays !” (Tatiana)

Tatiana,

After having read your comment, I wish to add something to my experience with the French university:

I am a German national and had my “Abitur” and a diploma as “European Secretary” (exact title). Low-cost full-time private tuition for 2.5 years had led me there. I had never planned on becoming a secretary for life. I simply didn’t want to be too old before I could earn my own money and become independent of my family’s ideas. I finished when I was 22. By age 22, without any delay, a US (or British or French) student might have his/her Master’s degree – or almost that.

I hoped to have my own life and family – when still young. When my first child was 2 years old, I lived in the US and got enrolled at a Community College. That was cheap but childcare was very expensive.

After one part-time trimester, I was offered a scholarship with New York University (8 000 US $!). – I was happy and proud for a very short moment only because I knew that we were to move a few months later due to my husband’s work.

I looked into the possibility nonetheless. The US universities took into account: my “Abitur” after regular 13 school years as well as my secretarial studies that had included three foreign languages and were pertaining to the field of communications that I wanted to get my Bachelor's degree in.

After one year, I would have had that degree. I had two problems: We had to leave, and my husband threatened to quit his job (our security) if I didn’t join him and the total tuition at NYU was at 20 000 US $ (plus the cost for living and childcare!). –

I could only decide against that option. I regretted it for years!

I have never stopped exploring my options to get my degree because I love to study and learn and feel comfortable with responsibility and decision making. We had two more children. We now live in France. There is no university nearby. I have found the possibility to study via correspondence courses (s. above).

French universities would never take into account what I have learnt or done before. French universities are cheap but that depends on how you look at it. Had I stayed in the US, I would have earned a tremendous amount of money in a field that I most probably would have liked.

The amount WOULD have been tremendous compared to nothing during those years. Now, I won’t be part of the workforce for another few years. Do you call that cheap?

The money guru Kostolany once said he was too greedy to buy cheap shoes… -

I had been ready to teach French kids German to earn a little bit. I was told that it was out of the question to allow for me to do that because I didn’t have the appropriate diploma. I do understand their point. Dominique pointed out that if I wanted to teach, I had to go the same way as everyone (égalité!) and study to become a teacher.

Well, I do not want to be a teacher. I wanted to help out, earn a little and offer my services because I know and could prove that I would do an excellent job, teaching my mother tongue!! –

I don’t complain. This is how things work in France, and I guess, all over Europe. My children go to a small private school in the village. I will teach German at that school. They may give me that job because they are private and different rules apply to them. They won’t pay me, though… -

If Sarkozy manages to “Americanize” France over the years, it will mostly be for the better. To believe that everything will be so expensive is very short-sighted!

Today, I realise, too, that it had been a terrible mistake to not go to NYU and get my degree when I was given the opportunity. I should have taken on a credit and would have paid it back 10 times already… - I didn’t have the vision or wisdom to see that.

But then, had I been "wise" enough, my whole life would be different. I wouldn't be sitting here right now to write this. Bref, I don't regret the wrong decisions now. They lie in the past but

Tatiana, you shouldn't fear as Sarkozy is preparing France for a different, more flexible future. The French way is not competitive but the world we live in his highly competitive. France must adapt to that reality. There is no other way.

If you want to do something about it, then get involved in shaping that future. Don't block it.

[Frank Schnittger]

"So grow up, for a change, and stop whining. It's been a nice ride up to now. Everything has an end. Say thank you to papa and mama, and step graciously out of the merry-go-round." - Robert Marchenoir

Nice to have you back at your acerbic best, Robert!

But what you fail to argue is why anyone should agree to "step graciously out" of the merry-go-round when they are having such fun at the taxpayers expense.

This battle is essentially a power struggle between a well entrenched and well organised public service and the rest of the population - which forms a democratic majority but which has very few effective means of fighting back.

The problem is that, over the years, the French public have ceded almost all power to the Civil service by allowing public monopolies to develop, and by allowing a very intrusive form of Government which regulates almost every facet of existence.

Regulations require bureaucrats to administer them and it is the French public of have become so "childishly dependent" on having almost every part of their lives administered and regulated ad nauseam.

Perhaps the strikes, if prolonged, will force a rupture, and the French people will resolve not to have any group of workers have the power of monopoly and ransom over them.

But remember even the Tories under Ted Heath lost first time around. It was only much later, when coal mining had become a much less strategic industry, that Thatcher was able to defeat the miners.

The key, and longer term battle is for Sarkozy to render the public service monopolies relatively impotent, by allowing private sector competition, de-regulation, and WWW based automation of Government processes etc. so that the Transport workers and Functionaires no longer have a monopoly of control over the services essential to the running of he state.

In answer to Maggie G, a strike is a very import bargaining tool for workers when faced with draconian, unfair, and sometimes just plain stupid management actions. However when workers have already secured job security for life, favourable pension benefits, and high levels of consultation in the workplace it loses much of its raison d'etre in a democracy, and becomes instead a tool for a few key strategically placed workers to exploit their position relative to everybody else.

It seems to me to be not an undue infringement of democratic rights that the right to strike should be suspended where these privileges apply. If Public service workers are so romantically attached to the notion of the right to strike, then it is only fair that "the right to sack" should also apply.

If Sarkozy really wants to up the ante he can announce that if the strikes to not stop forthwith he will dismiss the 10% of public service workers he deems to be surplus to requirements - starting with those who have sabotaged the Train lines.

[Frank Schnittger]

Lily - you are a good example of the talents, skills, enterprise and energy that is lost to France because of the bureaucratic obsession that you must "tick all the boxes" before you are allowed to do anything.

It is a pity your husband wasn't a bit more supportive and allowed you to live and work for yourself as an equal in the relationship. Of course that would have required sacrifice and risk taking at first, but you would have been so much more fulfilled if you had gotten your degree - and, as you say, the investment in getting that degree would have paid off many times since.

Keep at it, France may not be the most supportive of environments, but there are many companies that would love to have you mix of energy, skills and experience. My employer even supported financially and in terms of time off in studying for a Masters during my employment.

If I were hiring for a company I would employ you long before all the people who tick all the qualification boxes but haven't shown the flexibility and enterprise you appear to have shown.

[Sandrine]

"Nothing personal, I'm sure you realize.

So grow up, for a change, and stop whining. "

Robert is back when the subject is about the fonctionnaires, why am I not surprised ? I just love the "nothing personal" part. Do you think that all the strikes are about people's egos ? Is that how you really see it or is it only when it concerns the fonctionnaires ? Because then, how come we didn't hear you about the ego of the "pêcheurs" ? Or the "buralistes" ? or the "lawyers" ? Or for every category of people who wanna keep their different privileges ???

Frank and you have to understand one thing : the fonctionnaires' employer is the state (or the Government if you want), when it decides something which is clearly unfair, it's our right to go on strike. To make them come back to the negotiations.

Frank are you telling me that we should suppress the right to strike for the fonctionnaires, because they have a job for life ? Which means that if tomorrow the government decides to lower my wages by 40% I have no way to say no ? Oh, yeah, because I have a job for life, and that I have too many PRIVILEGIES, I should just be happy with that and accept WHATEVER they wanna do to me ? Well, if you find that right, then let me tell you that I sincerely HOPE this will NEVER HAPPEN !

The vision Robert and you have for France just frightens me more and more !

"Le Monde is Centre Right or Centre Left - as you like it- !? Same goes for their readers including me."

Ros, if Le Monde is Centre Right, I understand why there are more and more of their readers who disagree with what they write...

[Lily]

"Which means that if tomorrow the government decides to lower my wages by 40% I have no way to say no ?" (Sandrine)

Sandrine,

you may say no - and quit the job, find another one (earn more or less and have less job security.)

[azloon]

Bravo, Lily !!

your points are almost too glaringly sane for the prattle that often passes for discussion here (particularly when french leftists are involved). you, as well, Robert M.

Lily, i suggest you consider an online degree from an american or british university. my small u.s. town has no four-year university university, so students do their first two years at a community college (as you apparently did), then move onto to a four-year college or university, often by correspondance via an online curriculum. it may involve a trip or two to the u.s., but perhaps worth it. i suspect you've already explored this option, tho advances in this area are many with the expansion of the web.

i doubt that you'll not finally succeed in getting your degree, even if it takes awhile. you are obviously very bright.

after being around this blog for awhile, i have come to respect (if not admire) many french's fear of being 'americanized,' (i wouldn' especially want to be totally americanized either, if i had a choice). there is much to be said for the french approach, and the french view of life. but the unequivocal right to strike, whenever and wherever, just doesn't seem to me deserving of much admiration. just because it's part of the past shouldn't make it an inviolable 'droit,' immune from a serious rethinking.

so, french nation, fashion your own future, taking into account your traditions and present world realities. that's better than having some unpalateable 'solution' shoved down your throat. btw, this involves more than just saying 'non.'

see below link to an apparently serious proposal to use horses to replace mechanized public transport, presented here for your consideration/amusement. talk about 1789!

http://www.reuters.com/article/newsMaps/idUSL1665984020071121?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

it's 5am here, and i'm escaping the noisy (but currently sleeping) hordes in my house who where up all hours of the night last night drinking beer and arguing about anything that anyone else said.

i am anticipating the arrival of Terry, Maggie and Sandrine at any moment (even tho Terry was disinvited-- he seems the party 'crasher' sort).

:)

[The 3rd Column]

"If Sarkozy really wants to up the ante he can announce that if the strikes to not stop forthwith he will dismiss the 10% of public service workers he deems to be surplus to requirements - starting with those who have sabotaged the Train lines." - Frank Schnittger

Agree!

[Ros]

ACTU75

"In England one single civil servant is enough to make a waste of people's taxes and taxes' datas."
Yes, but this only happens once a century - hardly comparable!

[Ros]

Sandrine:
"Ros, if Le Monde is Centre Right, I understand why there are more and more of their readers who disagree with what they write"
Of course, that's exactly what I meant but wasn't specific enough .......

[Lily]

Maggie,

The French give the definition of « democracy » a different emphasis than the Anglo-Saxons. Both define democracy as “rule by the people” but the Anglo-Saxons will automatically agree that this means that elected representatives will make decisions via majority vote. That is how the French have elected Nicolas Sarkozy but French democracy doesn’t simply “end” there.

The “rule by the people”, the citizen’s democratic duty doesn’t end with the election.

The following quotes are from the French wikipedia:

“La démocratie ne peut donc se concevoir comme simple dictature de la majorité. »

« Le gouvernement doit être pour le peuple et donc œuvrer dans le sens de l’intérêt général, par opposition à des décisions prises pour des intérêts particuliers ou dans l’intérêt supérieur de l’Etat’. »

« La somme des intérêts particuliers ne tend pas nécessairement vers l’intérêt général. »

Every French citizen continues to fight for his rights well beyond the elections. The official voice of the opposition does not have much power.

The voices on the streets, though, get heard. They don’t complain that there is a basic, constitutional problem with the government, the presidential power (unequalled in Europe) or the media. They don’t complain in order to accomplish or bring about a true revolution.

They just complain in defence of their own personal self-interest which is of public interest, as we see these days…! We don’t want to see those public transport employees unhappy any longer, do we?

The “rule by the people” principle surmises and reminds us every day that there are 58 million voices that all account for “l’intérêt general”.

In other words, the French (opposition) will count the representatives who were elected by a majority. These are very few people (a minority!) compared to those 58 million voices they are supposed to represent.

Sarkozy and his équipe as probably any superior governing body might remind the French of pre-revolutionary days and MUST be distrusted.

Strikes appear to be a justified means of expression in this political climate.

[Frank Schnittger]

Sandrine - there are many rational and independent ways of determining salary rises based on increased productivity, inflation, and comparisons with other workers.

Going on strike as a means of determining a "fair" level of wage increase is positively medieval and I am surprised that a sophisticated country such as France hasn't been able to devise a rational and independent way of doing this. Other countries have - and that is another reason why France is falling behind.

Striking as a method of pay determination rewards the most ruthless, those in the most strategic industries, and those prepared to do the most damage to the economic prospects of everybody else. The vast majority of people lose under this system, because if they strike their customers (and their employers) just move elsewhere.

The “price” for being a public servant is that you have to serve the public interest. If you don’t want to do that don’t be surprised if no one is too bothered about preserving your “privileges”.

"we should suppress the right to strike for the fonctionnaires, because they have a job for life"

Yes, because that means an exceptional degree of safety. Protected by their status, they don't even realize what it means to live in the real life, where jobs are not guaranteed.

Also, because public service often means monopoly. It is unfair and should be illegal to have the right to block a service that you alone have the right to provide.

Finally, because public service IS public service: there is an OBLIGATION of continued deliverance as by its very nature!

Or else, the market should be open for privateers to provide train and metropolitan transport services.

[Valentin]

"if tomorrow the government decides to lower my wages by 40% I have no way to say no"

Yes you have: you can wear red hats and silently walk around your building every couple of hours.
Protesting against your employer is one thing, you can harm him, his clients, but we're not normal clients, we're simple citizens who *need* those services; taking people hostage or forcing them to walk 10 km daily is a crime, sorry.

[Lily]

How about "public service" and the right to strike in other countries?

In Germany eg, strike is not allowed for public servants.

[Sandrine]

"you may say no - and quit the job, find another one (earn more or less and have less job security.)"

Yes Lily, I guess that's the way it is now : LESS security for EVERYBODY !! Vive le 21ème siècle !!!

"that's better than having some unpalateable 'solution' shoved down your throat."

Well Azloon, if you suppress the right to strike, I don't know what else you can use to prevent that. Maybe use the National Assembly for that ? Well, obviously the government does what it wants without listening anybody. If it has a law to pass, the opposition (and even sometimes its own party) can oppose as much as it wants, it won't change a thing.

What are the quidam's solutions ?

"The “price” for being a public servant is that you have to serve the public interest."

Gee, thanks Frank, but isn't it what I'm doing everyday ? Even if I go on strike (which I never did btw), the amount of work I have to do doesn't suddenly disappear. I'll still have to do it ! And for those who think that we're paid while we're on strike, that's not true, believe me !

And Frank, I agree the strike should be the ultimate weapon, but you know, even if Charles doesn't mention them, there are negotiations BEFORE the unions decide of a strike. It's when the Government shuts the door to further discussions that they happen.

Concerning strikes that annoys the whole country (you know, the big big power that the fonctionnaires and the rail agents have), well just wait till the "routiers" go on strike! Talk about creating big big problems to people ! And they're not even fonctionnaires...

So Frank, you're not going far enough : let's suppress the right to strike FOR EVERYBODY ! Then Sarko will have absolutely no problem reforming this country the way he dreams to do it.

But you guys who love to hate lazy France might be bored to death as there would have nothing to despise anymore.

"they don't even realize what it means to live in the real life, where jobs are not guaranteed."

Well, to the person who said that, I'm sorry but that's not true. It's not because we're fonctionnaires that we don't understand how life can be miserable and hard ! Just come in the Fonction publique and we'll see if you'll then be happy for ever !!

[Lily]

Frank, Azloon,

thanks to both of you for your supportive words!

I should copy-paste some of it into my CV..

I will continue to pursue my degree in France (for practical reasons), but will look into other options for further studies towards a Master's degree.

[Valentin]

Lily,
Re Germany, they'll tell you France is in advance on social rights, who are "bafoués" in Germany.

The main problem here is that fonctionnaires don't understand that the state is not just another employer out there, but represents ALL OF US.

THIS is the issue with democracy in France: people don't realize the State IS themselves, they don't assume this role, they're in permanent suspicion and hostility and see the State as a hostile foreign power governing them by force.

[Lily]

"...that the state is not just another employer out there, but represents ALL OF US.

THIS is the issue with democracy in France: people don't realize the State IS themselves,..." (Valentin)

I would love to hear some more French comment on this.

[Robert Marchenoir]

Sandrine, you ask:

"Do you think that all the strikes are about people's egos ?"

1. Strikes are about civil servants' own selfish interests, which, more often than not these days, contradict the nation's general interest.

2. When thus challenged, civil servants invariably complain of being despised and insulted, e.g. put their egos centre stage.

3. My comment was a plea for the common good to prevail over specific interests. Your response did not even bother to address that issue. Therefore, it confirms my view that, yes, it is mostly about your egos.

You write:

"Which means that if tomorrow the government decides to lower my wages by 40% I have no way to say no ?"

Tell me of the last time any government tried to do that. Tell me which part of Sarkozy's agenda includes that. Tell me when it has ever been attempted in the private sector, where workers are much less protected. In fact, it would probably be illegal.

In fact, Sarkozy's agenda includes exactly the opposite: giving back to civil servants, through wage increases, half of the savings generated by lowering the staff count through attrition. I cannot believe someone so vocal about such issues is not aware of it.

Finally, you say:

"Just come in the Fonction publique and we'll see if you'll then be happy for ever !!"

This argument is so often rehearsed by civil servants it makes one sick. We're back to your little egos where we started, really.

If the fonction publique is such a hellhole, why do you not just quit? Who on earth compelled you to take a job with the civil service?

Are you trying to make people forget that in order to get a public sector job, one has to take an exam, which only a set number of people can pass?

Are you trying to tell us that nobody wants to do the job that you do, whereas the polls tell us that 3 out of 4 young Frenchmen are longing to become a civil servant, because it would hand them a job for life?

In fact, the implication of your question, which I have read a thousand times in similar terms, is that you are being terribly generous with your fellow citizens by accepting to work for them, that you are really making them a favor.

Well, you are not. You are just doing the job you are paid to do (and that is presuming you actually do it). Tens of millions of people working for the private sector do as much, and they do not feel morally superior to their fellow citizens just for that.

Incidentally, since you are raising the issue, you might explain us exactly in what way an office job in some French embassy or consulate in the United States, which you seem to hold, is so much tougher than the average position of a private sector worker in France.

So, yes, there are a lot of immature egos at work there.

[eygh]

Robert Marchenoir,

"The problem, ladies and gentlemen, is not your little egos, for which, frankly, we do not care much either way (although we would appreciate not to be treated like shit when interacting with you, since we happen to pay your wages)."

Not that I support the strikes but, in your eagerness to bash the "fonctionnaires", you seem to get "slightly" carried away.

You are using the tax payer's money argument as if the hordes of "fonctionnaires" were a dead weight and were not paying taxes.

Well, I'm sure this is coming as a complete scoop to you, but they are tax payers and since they are salaried "employees" it's pretty hard for them to cheat out of paying their due (unlike a certain number of French tax payers).

They also happen to be human beings who work, have families that need to be fed, clothed, lodged, entertained, ... In short, they also are consummers and participate to the economy.

I've noticed that very often the people who are ranting about the tax payer's money waste were the ones who managed paying very little taxes, if any.

Since you certainely don't have an ego problem you shouldn't mind my next question :

Do you pay taxes Monsieur Marchenoir ?

[Valentin]

"Strikes are about civil servants' own selfish interests, which, more often than not these days, contradict the nation's general interest"

The best example is exactly the retirement pension system.

France's is called "par repartition", which means that it is all mutualized: when you contribute to the public pension fund, you put your money into a common pool and you get points that will turn into pension when you retire.
The consequence is that you don't get your pension from your own contributed money, but from the common pool, depending on its state at the moment you retire: your pension will be payed from the active persons' contributions. As people start to work later, retire at 57 and life expectancy improves, from 4 workers to 1 pensioneer the proportion is now 1 to 1.

The solutions are but a few: increase workers' compulsory contribution, the retirement age, or lower the pension amount.

Or the fonctionnaires would not take either of them: on one side, they strongly support "le système par repartition" as symbol of solidarity, and at the same time refuse ANY solidarity with their own children - and call the solutions "sacrifices".
When even socialists support the reforms, fonctionnaires cry out for their "rights" and refuse to see what is a mathematical consequence of the System in the given demographical context.

Le beurre, et l'argent du beurre.

[Valentin]

"as if the hordes of fonctionnaires were a dead weight and were not paying taxes"

The fonctionnaires are privileged not so much in terms of salary, but the myriad of side advantages, from trips to bonuses, ending with the retirement conditions. They thus contribute less than the rest of the active people to the system while benefiting far more from it.
Of course we can't say they're dead weight, but it's fair to say we pay for their perks. Like Mme Thatcher, I almost feel like saying: I WANT MY MONEY BACK! :)

[eygh]

Robert Marchenoir,

"3. My comment was a plea for the common good to prevail over specific interests. Your response did not even bother to address that issue. Therefore, it confirms my view that, yes, it is mostly about your egos"

I'm so admirative of your debating skills. Where did you learn your tricks, in the UK ?

True, I had some difficulties finding that plea of yours (I don't know why, but you don't seem to be the pleading kind), what with all the fuss in the middle of

"the great swindle of French civil servants, several million adults acting like obnoxious teenagers, with their childish protests and arguments linked to their little egos ...".

It was hard enough to reach the actual core of the problem through your heartfelt "plaidoierie", but here it is :

"It's the sheer number of you.

You're waaay too many.

You cost us an arm and a leg."

And to avoid any ambiguity, prevent any illusion that "fonctionnaires", have ever had or may have any use for the country, you go on with :

"Even if you toiled like slaves ten hours a day for the minimum wage -- which you do not, believe me -- you would still be an unsufferable luxury for the nation through the huge collective cost you represent."

Now the following sentence was specifically for letting/makign sure Sandrine (and Dominique maybe) knows that your prosecution was actually totally directed at them and provoque a reaction how "habile":

"Nothing personal, I'm sure you realize."

And then the conclusion (le coup de grâce):

"So grow up, for a change, and stop whining. It's been a nice ride up to now. Everything has an end. Say thank you to papa and mama, and step graciously out of the merry-go-round."

The country doesn't need you. Get the hell out of here. Everything will go so much better for us once you are gone !

N'était-ce pas jouissif, Monsieur Marchenoir ? Peut-être un peu adolescent transgresseur/provocateur sur les bords tout de même, non ?

But after all you are a specialist on little adolescent egos.

[Martin]

Yes, I was sure about the similarity between us and the Spartans. This link shows I was right.
http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/divisions.cfm

"So grow up, for a change, and stop whining. It's been a nice ride up to now. Everything has an end. Say thank you to papa and mama, and step graciously out of the merry-go-round." - Robert Marchenoir

Nice to have you back at your acerbic best, Robert!

But what you fail to argue is why anyone should agree to "step graciously out" of the merry-go-round when they are having such fun at the taxpayers expense.

This battle is essentially a power struggle between a well entrenched and well organised public service and the rest of the population - which forms a democratic majority but which has very few effective means of fighting back.

The problem is that, over the years, the French public have ceded almost all power to the Civil service by allowing public monopolies to develop, and by allowing a very intrusive form of Government which regulates almost every facet of existence.

Regulations require bureaucrats to administer them and it is the French public of have become so "childishly dependent" on having almost every part of their lives administered and regulated ad nauseam.

Perhaps the strikes, if prolonged, will force a rupture, and the French people will resolve not to have any group of workers have the power of monopoly and ransom over them.

But remember even the Tories under Ted Heath lost first time around. It was only much later, when coal mining had become a much less strategic industry, that Thatcher was able to defeat the miners.

The key, and longer term battle is for Sarkozy to render the public service monopolies relatively impotent, by allowing private sector competition, de-regulation, and WWW based automation of Government processes etc. so that the Transport workers and Functionaires no longer have a monopoly of control over the services essential to the running of he state.

In answer to Maggie G, a strike is a very import bargaining tool for workers when faced with draconian, unfair, and sometimes just plain stupid management actions. However when workers have already secured job security for life, favourable pension benefits, and high levels of consultation in the workplace it loses much of its raison d'etre in a democracy, and becomes instead a tool for a few key strategically placed workers to exploit their position relative to everybody