1. France : Support for the Protest Movement Is Still
Gathering Momentum
2. Thousands march in Italy for worker rights, democracy
===
1.
France : Support for the Protest Movement Is Still
Gathering Momentum

By Paule Masson l'Humanite (France) October 17, 2010

http://www.humaniteinenglish.com/spip.php?article1625

Far from being on the ebb, social anger against the
French government's pensions reform grows stronger
every day. The IFOP poll we publish today shows that
57% of French people want discussions to start fresh
over "another pensions reform project". Only 16% simply
want the bill to be withdrawn, proof that little by
little the idea that another reform is possible and
alternative proposals must be discussed is gaining
strength.

Young people between 18 and 24 (to the tune of 64%) and
blue-collar workers (59%) are the categories that are
the most favourable to this position. Our poll is only
one in a series of many, notably the BVA poll (before
last Tuesday's general strike), in which 54% of French
people say they support the idea of "a general strike
as in 1995".

Our poll also confirms what is taking place at the
grassroots level. For the last few days, the social
conflict has been expressing itself in a multitude of
initiatives that prove it's a round-the-clock protest.
"A lot of the information available concerns" oil
refineries or transport, "but that's only the surface
of things", Bernard Thibault, general secretary of the
Labour General Confederation (CGT) keeps saying, as
opposed to statements that the movement is "running out
of steam". General assemblies are taking place in
hundreds of plants or services; a lot of them don't
vote for a daily renewable strike, or "not yet". But
most discuss the possible forms of the movement, of its
extension, and prepare multi-branch actions, like last
Saturday's demonstrations. At least 230 demonstrations
have been called across the country.

In many towns demonstrations take place on a daily
basis, whether among secondary school pupils or multi-
branch workers. That was true last Friday of Marseille,
Rouen, Montpellier, Nantes, Tours, Saint-Nazaire and
elsewhere. Other actions develop that block access to
and operations in strategic sites like oil depots; but
also roads, round-abouts, and tunnels are being
blocked.

For the last few days, local public services have been
seething. The CGT numbered some 120 local government
services in at least 50 departements (against 43 last
Thursday) that were disrupted. Garbage collectors are
on strike in Marseille and Paris. In Bordeaux, 46
school canteens are closed, while in Nantes the central
kitchen does not supply any meals to the town's
schools. The contempt the government has shown towards
young people who supposedly "have no reason to
demonstrate" and "are only skipping classes", has given
a kick-start to the movement. The schools union (UNL)
said 400 schools were mobilized last Tuesday at midday,
and 1100 two days later. Now on the ropes, the
government is trying the tactic of repression in order
to divide protesters, notably against young marchers.
In doing so, it is raking the embers of accumulated
rancour and some of the rallies have gotten out of
control. Yesterday police forced demonstrators out of
the oil depots they were occupying.

In choosing the strategy of fear-mongering, the
government is taking the risk of further widening the
clash. "This reform symbolizes all the injustices in
this country," Francois Chereque, the general secretary
of the CFDT (a more moderate labour confederation)
concedes. Interviewed by AFP, Guy Groux, a specialist
on social movements, wonders "whether we are not
witnessing a more global rejection that extends even
beyond the pensions reform to a rejection of the
government."

Indeed the nature of the movement may be changing. But
it is certainly not on the ebb. As (...) Saturday's
demonstration may [1] once more show.

[1] This article was pubished in the October 16 issue

==
2.
Thousands march in Italy for worker rights, democracy
(Roundup)

Oct 16, 2010
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/business/news/article_1591908.php/Thousands-march-in-Italy-for-worker-rights-democracy-Roundup

Rome - Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the
Italian capital Rome on Saturday, demanding worker
rights and democracy.

Seven chartered trains and 70 buses from across Italy
brought people to the protest, which had been called by
the metal-worker union FIOM, local media reported.

Students and workers from other fields also took part.

'We want to defend work contracts, jobs and democracy -
given one of the biggest assaults of all times on the
rights of workers,' said the secretary general of FIOM,
Maurizio Landini.

The protest came amid criticism of the economic
policies pursued by the conservative government of
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, as well as an attempt
by Italian carmaker Fiat to push through more flexible
work conditions and contracts at its Pomigliano branch
near Naples - threatening to close the plant otherwise.

Opposition politicians participated in the
demonstration, as did the secretary general of Italy's
largest union, CGIL.

'Italy is tumbling into the abyss. A change in the
politico- economic strategy is urgently needed,'
Guglielmo Epifani said.

No violent incidents were reported, despite fears to
the contrary. Interior Minister Roberto Maroni had
earlier warned that anarchistic groups may infiltrate
the demonstration.

But two separate protest marches peacefully made their
way from the city centre to the square in front of the
Basilica of St John Lateran, where a final rally was to
take place.

_____________________________________________

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