French teachers strike over job cuts under Sarkozy

[xchrom]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_FRANCE_STRIKE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-09-27-12-48-08

PARIS (AP) -- Tens of thousands of French teachers and their supporters took to the streets Tuesday for a national strike and protests over education job cuts under President Nicolas Sarkozy's government.

As children nationwide packed into a shrinking number of classes because their teachers were out, Sarkozy insisted that his first responsibility was to private-sector workers and employers facing international competition at a time of economic woe, not state employees.

The strikes and protests - and Sarkozy's retort - come as France is gearing up for presidential and legislative elections next year. Labor unions want to ratchet up the pressure on Sarkozy's conservatives, who have cut public-sector jobs as a way to help reduce France's bloated budget deficit.

In a first, private school teachers joined the walkout with their public-sector colleagues who are angry about job cuts. Tens of thousands of positions have been cut since 2007 and a further 14,000 are planned to go in 2012.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Lexington and Concord

come to mind.

[rurallib]

2. pockets of resistance all over the world

[OHdem10]

3. Did you see where France just had election and the LEFT Won

an absolute majority. First time the French Senate
will Not be controlled by the RIGHT since 1958.
(sort of set back for Sarcozy).

[xchrom]

4. I did see that - let's hope the trend continues & we see the backside of sarkozy. Nt