France is in the news ? for all the wrong reasons. Strikes, demonstrations, blockades, fuel shortages.
The current situation is a stand-off between the unions and the government. Blockades of oil refineries and fuel depots has led fuel shortages at the pumps. The usual suspects are also either threatening to strike or striking, the SNCF (French railways), and air traffic controllers. The French government have forced through a new law (the Loi El Khomri) to try reduce unemployment that stands at 10% (and over 20% for young people under 24). France’s unions and in particular the CGT run by a former card-carrying member of the French Communist Party, are doing their uttermost to get the government to capitulate to their demands. Only around 8% of the workforce are members of a union so their claims to represent workers is not born out by the facts. Despite all this life goes on.
