What's going on in Paris?

[Onkel Neal]

What are these protests about? Anyone here read French?

Man, this is not making our news at all here, isn't the date May 12?

[Von Due]

It appears to be linked to this
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-w...block-highways

Mind you, that was just one hit on google and I have no idea about that source's credibility about the details and opinions etc.

[Betonov]

I'd hate to be a cop these days.

You're sent into a line of molotovs and bricks with tied hands to protect people that make 10-times what you make, that just a week before were telling you how you're a drain on the nations budget with your minimal wage and you're protecting them from people that their parents made sure that they make three times what you do because let's face it, the farmers and workers, the real ''got the short end of the stick'', are never really seen setting streets on fire.


Ah, this, this is a game changer

But tens of thousands took part in demonstrations, saying France would become a nation of workers on short-term contracts, with next to no security, if the changes are approved.

Slovenia is already in this state and now I can understand why they're angry.
And I hope they fight their way to the french parliament and torch it to the ground

[Oberon]

The French?

Protesting?

DEAR GOD!



Ah, one thing you learn being the next door neighbours of these guys is that they do love a good protest, even better if they can shut something down...like a port, the Air Traffic Control system, the rail network, the more disruption the better.
Still, to be fair on them, governments and companies alike seem to not listen to anything other than force these days, and then use that same force as an excuse to clamp down on things.
Damned if you do...

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Betonov

And I hope they fight their way to the french parliament and torch it to the ground

That's terrible.

[Betonov]

Originally Posted by Onkel Neal

That's terrible.

No, let me tell you what's terrible.
Living in your parents house because no bank will touch you without a full time contract.
Living in your parents house because there is no certainty that you'll be able to pay rent in 2 months from now.
Being fired every six months for a week because a loophole was placed in the laws to prevent the company having to take you in full time (law states that they can only extend a ''starting'' 3 month contract one time before they are obliged to give you a full time).
Not daring to plan your vacation because you fear that that money you just spent on booking will be needed to survive before the summer begins.
Not trying to start a family because your wife/gf will be fired as soon as the contract ends or even worse, the next day she anounces she's pregnant. Full maternity leave is available only with full time contracts and they are as rare as a dodo bird after the last few labor reforms the French are protesting against.
Companies allowed to give you an option to be self employed of GTFO, which means no paid vacation and no paid sick leave. You break your arm at work, tough luck, best case scenario you're out of a months wage, worse case, the job is given to someone else.

That is what we got and the French are getting and the French were lucky enough to have been warned. We just got informed by employers one day that the laws have changed.

So burning down the parliament is not terrible, leaving it standing to further spread misery amongst the nation is.

[Jimbuna]

The French were an integral player in the EU when the Working Time Regulations were devised:

The Working Time Directive, 2003/88/EC, is a Directive of the European Union. It gives EU workers the right to a minimum number of holidays each year, rest breaks, and rest of at least 11 hours in any 24 hours; restricts excessive night work; a day off after a week's work; and provides for a right to work no more than 48 hours per week. It was issued as an update on earlier versions from 22 June 2000 and 23 November 1993. Since excessive working time is cited as a major cause of stress, depression and illness, the stated purpose of the Directive is to protect people's health and safety.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_Time_Directive

It would appear the French government would like to make their country's economy more flexible, competitive and productive. To do that, they say they need to end some long-standing worker protections. Legislation that's moving forward would make it easier for employers to hire and fire workers.

So much for EU membership.

Mr Cameron will no doubt be keeping a close watch on developments.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Betonov

No, let me tell you what's terrible.
Living in your parents house because no bank will touch you without a full time contract.
Living in your parents house because there is no certainty that you'll be able to pay rent in 2 months from now.
Being fired every six months for a week because a loophole was placed in the laws to prevent the company having to take you in full time (law states that they can only extend a ''starting'' 3 month contract one time before they are obliged to give you a full time).
Not daring to plan your vacation because you fear that that money you just spent on booking will be needed to survive before the summer begins.
Not trying to start a family because your wife/gf will be fired as soon as the contract ends or even worse, the next day she anounces she's pregnant. Full maternity leave is available only with full time contracts and they are as rare as a dodo bird after the last few labor reforms the French are protesting against.
Companies allowed to give you an option to be self employed of GTFO, which means no paid vacation and no paid sick leave. You break your arm at work, tough luck, best case scenario you're out of a months wage, worse case, the job is given to someone else.

That is what we got and the French are getting and the French were lucky enough to have been warned. We just got informed by employers one day that the laws have changed.

So burning down the parliament is not terrible, leaving it standing to further spread misery amongst the nation is.

Contracts? WTH is a contract? Somehow we manage to survive over here and no one has any contract.

Just remember, when you start burning Parliament, people will die.

[August]

Originally Posted by Betonov

No, let me tell you what's terrible.

None of that is nearly as terrible as life in a country without a functioning government. Instead of planning your vacation you're going to be planning how you and your family will survive so be careful what you wish for.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Betonov

No, let me tell you what's terrible.
Living in your parents house because no bank will touch you without a full time contract.
Living in your parents house because there is no certainty that you'll be able to pay rent in 2 months from now.
Being fired every six months for a week because a loophole was placed in the laws to prevent the company having to take you in full time (law states that they can only extend a ''starting'' 3 month contract one time before they are obliged to give you a full time).
Not daring to plan your vacation because you fear that that money you just spent on booking will be needed to survive before the summer begins.
Not trying to start a family because your wife/gf will be fired as soon as the contract ends or even worse, the next day she anounces she's pregnant. Full maternity leave is available only with full time contracts and they are as rare as a dodo bird after the last few labor reforms the French are protesting against.
Companies allowed to give you an option to be self employed of GTFO, which means no paid vacation and no paid sick leave. You break your arm at work, tough luck, best case scenario you're out of a months wage, worse case, the job is given to someone else.

That is what we got and the French are getting and the French were lucky enough to have been warned. We just got informed by employers one day that the laws have changed.

Welcome to turbo capitalism....I fear we'll get there one day too. We're already taking steps there.

[Onkel Neal]

I guess it has something to do with pro business labor reforms?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-n...-paris-7956445

Man, they don't have any way top control that?