Paris stands by 35-hour week reform plans despite mass demos

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

France's centre-right government stood defiantly by plans to make the 35-hour work week more flexible with the controversial prospect of longer hours, despite mass weekend protests.

More than half a million people marched through 100 towns and cities on Saturday, according to the organisers -- an alliance of trade unions backed by the opposition Socialist Party. Police put the overall figure at 285,000.

A bill that would enable private sector employees to opt for longer hours was expected to pass its first reading when it goes before the National Assembly Monday.

In an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien, government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope insisted the plan to review the 35-hour week, which came into force in 2000, would "increase the ability of workers to make their own choices."

"Why does the Left want to prevent this? Is it out of nostalgia or ideology?" he asked.

Story: http://servihoo.com/channels/kinews/v3news_details.php?id=67570&CategoryID=47

[amazona]

1. I thought France had high unemployment already

This is a great way to make sure that even fewer people get jobs.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Trillo]

2. Isn't the modern phenomenon of making someone else more

than they're paying you swell?

I read somewhere that hunter-gatherers worked at need acquisition to the equivalent of 2-hours per day.

Gotta pay them masters' salaries.

[Radio_free_america]

3. Work more earn the same money

Boss of big enterprises are upset with 35h week work. They think they lose money and productivity.

In fact this 35h reform was a success, many industrie use it to turn 24/24.
And people use time to live.

I love to be with my son more often. And in a world where inegality and polution are behemot, working a leattle fewer is good for everyone.

Less polution, more workers...

[davidwparker]

4. Vive la France!