More French jobs law protest strikes threatened

French unions and students yesterday ordered a fresh round of strikes and demonstrations to pressure President Jacques Chirac to reject a new type of job contract, adding momentum to their swelling nationwide movement against the measure.

More than one million demonstrators took to French streets on Tuesday, disrupting transport and even shutting down the Eiffel Tower. It was the largest nationwide protest yet against the job contract that would make it easier to fire young workers.

Unions and student groups called new strikes for next Tuesday. They also appealed to Chirac to use his powers to withdraw the contract championed by his prime minister and supposed preferred successor, Dominique de Villepin.

Unions threatened to expand their movement.

“We will leave no one in peace,” CGT union leader Maryse Dumas said.

The government also toughened its stance. A teachers’ union, citing an official circular, said the education ministry ordered school administrators to move against students who have blocked high schools, by calling in police if necessary.

The ministry denied that it sanctioned the use of force, but said it did ask that schools reopen. It says that some 420 high schools, nearly 10% of the total, are either closed or facing disruptions.

One possible way out of the crisis could come today, when a body that evaluates the constitutionality of laws is expected to rule on Socialist demands that the job contract be struck down.

Student leader Bruno Julliard said such a decision from the Constitutional Council would break the impasse.

“Everyone would know that it would also be a rejection of the government, so it could be a way out of the crisis,” Julliard, who heads France’s main student association, said.

In the meantime, he added, students plan to diversify their protest tactics by calling for blockades of public transport centres such as airports and train stations, as well as more demonstrations.

Already yesterday, youths blocked traffic on the major bypass around the western city of Rennes and several other roads leading out of town. Police also announced that they made a total of 928 arrests nationwide – 629 of them in Paris – during violence that marred Tuesday’s otherwise largely peaceful demonstrations.

But Villepin again defended his measure, arguing that France’s chronic youth unemployment cannot be ignored – even as the pressure widened cracks in his conservative government.

“The situation is not acceptable. It is unjust, even a cause for despair,” he told parliament. Later, after a meeting with three student groups, he added: “I will not give up in the face of youth unemployment.”

Villepin, who so far has continued to enjoy Chirac’s backing, reiterated his willingness to discuss possible ”improvements” to the job contract, but again gave no hint that he will withdraw it. Chirac is expected to address the issue in the coming days.

Students and labour unions say the contract will erode France’s cherished workplace protections.

Set to take effect next month, it would let companies fire employees aged under 26 without reason in the first two years on the job.

Villepin says the greater flexibility will encourage companies to hire young workers. But as protests have grown, his government – and his chances of running for the presidency next year – have appeared increasingly fragile.

A survey published yesterday showed Villepin’s popularity rating sinking to a new low, with just 29% of respondents supporting him.