Teachers protest on Paris streets

by cynthia yoo | May 18, 2008 at 06:31 pm | 197 views | 3 comments

Bastille - 18 mai 2008 - Paris ; Quiet and sunny end of protest

Tens of thousands of teachers marched through Paris streets, protesting the education ministry's policies to cut jobs.

The protestors are also unhappy about President Nicolas Sarkozy's plans to force schools to stay open in the event of strike action.
Mr Sarkozy was elected a year ago on a platform of reforms, but many of them have provoked stiff opposition.

Separately, fishermen angered by rising fuel costs blockaded La Rochelle port.

A cordon of 90 fishing boats cut off access to the commercial harbour La Pallice on France's Atlantic coast for a fourth day running.

Fisherman also blocked off three fuel depots that serve much of western France, by piling palettes up on their access roads. They promised to maintain their protest until talks with the government open on Wednesday, AFP news agency reported.

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cynthia yoo

at 18:35 on May 18th, 2008

From flickr, I saw that there have a number of strikes and marches by French civil servants.

In April, there were protests by students: "Between 13000 and 50000 pupils were demonstrating in Paris, for the
seventh time in three weeks, protesting against the suppression of
11200 teacher's jobs.
As before, a large group of people unrelated to the pupil's movement
did disrupt the demonstration and provoke the cops. Around 37 rioters
were arrested.
Know that all the photos of that day showing police action are not
directly linked to the pupils who were demonstrating.
See all the photos of this demonstration, chronologically put, in this set : 17Apr08 - Pupil's Demonstration [Event]
See all the photos of all those pupil's demonstrations in this set : Apr08 - Pupil's Demonstrations - Overall [Event]"

Rhonda J Mangus

at 18:44 on May 18th, 2008

good stuff:

cynthia yoo, it's unfortunate that this matter is not settled! Thanks for the update!

Max Hilaire

at 23:09 on May 18th, 2008

Once again in the street to preserve and improve our National Education ;
Teachers, high-school pupils, parents ... and everybody who are against the planned destruction of our National Education by the gouvernement..
Our small President Sarkozy was the main target ! the others government members are only his "marionnettes" (puppets).

Max Hilaire has contributed a photo to this story.