Twenty years ago, a student and high school movement, joined by workers and supported by the general public, succeeded in withdrawing the First Employment Contract (CPE), a precarious contract for those under 26. ---- On October 27, 2005, in Clichy-sous-Bois, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré were killed while being pursued by the police. This sparked riots that engulfed working-class neighborhoods. The security response was followed by a political one based on the prejudice that young people from working-class neighborhoods were far removed from employment. In January 2006, Dominique de Villepin, then Prime Minister, announced the poorly named Equal Opportunities Law (LEC), which introduced apprenticeships starting at age 14, night work from age 15, and the suspension of family allowances in cases of school absenteeism, as well as the CPE (First Employment Contract), a contract reserved for those under 26 that could be terminated without cause during a trial period extended to two years.
Rennes 2 and Poitiers were the first universities to vote for a strike on February 7, initiating a massive and determined three-month movement of students. On February 7, inter-professional demonstrations brought together 400,000 workers. This number would swell to 3 million during the strike days of March 28 and April 4.
The movement is characterized by strong self-organization: universities and high schools organize themselves into General Assemblies (GAs) and coordinate their efforts. The national student coordination body, composed of delegations mandated by the GAs, plays a crucial role in coordinating the struggle at the national level.
The movement is extremely popular, and even if the protests don't gain traction, significant inter-professional mobilizations in the workplace bolster its support.
On March 31, 2006, in a televised address watched by 20.6 million people, President Jacques Chirac announced that he would promulgate the Equal Opportunities Law, including provisions relating to the CPE (First Employment Contract), while also demanding that no contract be signed without amending the most contested provisions. The movement is at its peak, and most universities are paralyzed by the strike. Disruptive actions are multiplying. On April 10, Dominique de Villepin announced that "the conditions are not met" for the CPE (First Employment Contract) to be implemented. The street protests had just forced the government and employers to back down, compelling them to abandon a contract that symbolized the spread of job insecurity. They had revived the prospect of widespread strikes and secured one of the last major victories at the interprofessional level.
Aurélien (UCL Montreuil)
https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?2006-la-rue-gagne-le-retrait-du-CPE
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Source: A-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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