A week after they returned from vacation the French unions returned to the streets giving their members another day off. General strike and manifestation of around 25,000 people in Marseilles against the retirement reforms planned by the government.
The longer than usual march started in the old port led by the CGT (the biggest union in France).
Thousands of French workers downed tools and took to the streets in protest against government demands that they work harder - and longer - to the age of 62.
Teachers and nurses, airline staff, bus drivers, factory workers and bank clerks united in fury against Nicolas Sarkozy's administration, nicknamed ''bling bling'' for its perceived bias towards the moneyed elite. More than 200 rallies unfolded across France, with union leaders saying hundreds of thousands poured onto the streets in Paris alone in a last-ditch attempt to force an about-face on plans to raise the retirement age from 60.
Enormous convoys of trucks armed with loudspeakers and decorated with hot air balloons bearing slogans demanding ''liberty but more importantly, equality'' choked streets, with workers marching in phalanxes beneath their union banners. Music blared and police appeared resigned to the melee.
As usual there is an argument between the police claiming there were 28,000 people and the organizers speaking about 150,000 (despite the fact that all the port cannot contain this amount).
now this is really annoying
now this is really annoying the saem text was placed on the story from Bordeaux (half my text half the editor) without even bothering to change the numbers and the location of the demonstration
note; 90% of the text isn't
note; 90% of the text isn't mine, i am not a picture commentator and what i wrote was totally different and cut by the editor and replaced with his standard texts. propper English boring text.
note; 90% of the text isn't
note; 90% of the text isn't mine, i am not a picture commentator and what i wrote was totally different and cut by the editor and replaced with his standard texts. proper English boring text.