Friday, May 27, 2016

Over 100K Protest in France over Labor Reforms; French PM:Law to Weaken Unions Won't Change

Demonstrators protesting against a French labor reform law took to the streets of Paris and other French cities and towns yesterday, as the country's powerful trade unions put up a show of force against the government's refusal to scrap reforms aimed at boosting employment, the France24 website reports today (May 27, 2016).

French authorities estimated at least 153,000 people took part in the protests across France, but the CGT labor union put the number much higher at 300,000. A total of 77 people were arrested during the demonstrations.

Protests in Paris descended into violence, with protesters throwing projectiles and police firing teargas. The unrest left several store fronts, a bus shelter, and a Velib bike-sharing station damaged.

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said that while "improvements and modifications" could be made to the labor reforms, the heart of the bill -- a measure weakening the power of unions over workplace rules -- will remain unchanged.

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