The French backlash against strikers

Times:

THOUSANDS of government supporters were gathering in Paris today to vent their fury over a public transport strike and to cheer on President Nicolas Sarkozy’s economic reforms.

After days of transport chaos and deadlock over one of the key reforms, the railway workers’ strike seemed set to continue even though the number involved is decreasing each day. A separate protest by students is also dragging on.

The government has taken comfort from widespread anger at the disruption to public transport. Reports of strikers obstructing railway lines to prevent trains leaving stations have provoked indignation.

In the presidential entourage a discussion went on about whether – and when – to use force against a small band of militants if they carried on blocking transport when the majority had gone back to work.

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Various groups have sprung up to protest against the strikers’ struggle to keep their retirement privileges under a “special regimes” system that Sarkozy wants to abolish. Organisers hoped to attract 40,000 to today’s demonstration in an attempt to persuade the unions to back down.

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The strike has turned into a trial of strength over reform of the “special regimes”, a system considered unfair because it allows 500,000 workers – about one tenth of the public sector – to retire on a full pension much earlier than the others. Train drivers can stop work at 50.

Some gas and electricity workers and employees of the state opera and theatre companies also benefit because of what were once considered to be difficult working conditions.

“It’s very irritating,” said Didier Neyrat, a businessman, “to see this small group of workers holding the country hostage. I’m glad we’ve elected a president who wants to change things.”

Sarkozy insists that talks cannot begin until the strikers go back to work. “You cannot negotiate with a revolver against your head,” he told his staff last week.

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Sarkozy may be the French Reagan or Thatcher. He seems to have rallied the people against the strikers which sounds almost ... unFrench. He definitely seems to have changed some attitudes and has also shown some spine. Viva Sarkozy.