Nicolas Sarkozy: "These days when there's a strike in France, nobody notices". Really?

Last July, Sarkozy passed a law that meant public services are forced to keep a minimum service going during strikes. "These days when there's a strike in France, nobody notices" said the French President. It was not, however, the case on Thursday.

Although public transport was severely disrupted, Sarkozy's "minimum service" rule functioned well. For example, in Paris, one metro out of two was running. So was the strike a failure? One union chief, François Chérèque from the Democratic Workers Federation, called it the biggest demonstration in twenty years. Police say over a million took to the streets across the country (the unions say it was 2.5m) - a number certainly unprecedented since Sarkozy took office.

Contributors

Arnaud Anciaux

Dominique Pi...

Remi Martial

"The French have answered Sarkozy loud and clear"

Arnaud Anciaux is a law student and member of Jeunes Socialistes, a socialist youth movement.

I was at the gathering at 2pm in Bastille. And I can tell you that the mobilisation was bigger than the parties and the unionists could have dared hope. The police issued a figure of 65,000 in Paris, which is ridiculous - there were 300,000 of us here. We were still going at 7.30pm. There were old people, young people, civil servants and private sector employees. The French have answered Sarkozy loud and clear."

Photo by Arnaud Anciaux.

Arnaud Anciaux

France
Student

Strike day in Clermont-Ferrand

"United together for social progress against liberalism"

"Sarko - step down or face revolution"

Photos posted by Hippolytephotography on Flickr.

"These days a strike doesn't result in panic"

Dominique Pinson is a convenience store chain owner. He's a member of the UMP's national board.

In the areas where the demos weren't taking place, Paris was as empty as if everyone were on holiday. You notice the strikes because they stop the country from functioning. On a day like yesterday, I notice that fewer people visit my stores.

But what's different is that these days a strike doesn't result in panic. I took the metro and there weren't huge crowds trying to get on like before. People had taken precautions and organised themselves. Many took a day off work and stayed at home. They can't be doing with the hassle of trying to travel on a strike day. I don't think the minimised transport service or school closures changed much. Everyone knows that it doesn't work."

Dominique Pi...

France
Manager of chain of stores

"When you see what's happened abroad, like in Greece, it's worrying"

Remi Martial is a member of the national inter-university union and speaker for Stop la grève (Stop the strike).

Minimum service transport worked ok today, there weren't big problems [for children going to school, people using public transport etc]. However, if the strikes continued, it wouldn't be enough. Yesterday we went to Saint Lazare train station to hand out anti-strike fliers, because we sensed that the movement would become more serious, especially if the universities got involved. I talked with a student unionist who told me that there's a real dispute going on. The extreme left is gaining increasing support, with the current crisis, discontent is widespread and political. And when you see what's happened abroad, like in Greece, it's worrying".

Remi Martial