Paris

Where is the struggle going?

May 2nd more than 600 followers of coordination 75 of the sans-papiers (75 is the number of the department of Paris) entered as a big group the Center of the Unions in order to occupy it. In this article, some of the delegates of this occupation give their views on struggle with and against the unions.

From the time of our arrival the gate of the big hall at bottom floor was quickly closed, so the occupation was limited to the courtyard, the stairs up until the forth floor and the hallways of the floors.

For the unity of all the sans-papiers collectives!

For 58 days, from the 2nd may, on the initiative of the coordination 75 around 800 children, men, and women have occupied the Center of the Unions at rue Charlot (metro République) in Paris.

Something new is coming into force in this historically important location in the workers struggle in France. The occupation is made in an autonomous way against every "advice" and recommendation of the big political organizations and against the unions, and it is holding out well.

Finster, Ramon, 194?-1996

Ramon Finster

A founding member of the French ORA, anarchist militant, artist, writer, animator of cultural and artistic events.

The Butte aux Cailles in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, lies south of the Seine. It is one of the least known old neighbourhoods of the French capital, like its working class cousins north of the river – Batignolles, Belleville and Menilmontant. The Butte rises gently beside the now subterranean course of Paris’s forgotten river the Bievre.

The Chinese anarchist movement

Liu Shih-Fu, Chinese anarchist

A history of the Chinese anarchist movement in France, Japan and China itself from 1900 up to the formation of the Chinese Communist Party.

R. Scalapino and G.T. Yu.

Berkeley: Center for Chinese Studies, 1961

Contents
Editor's Note
Preface
The Origins of Chinese Anarchism
Anarchism and the Nationalist Revolution
The Work-Study Movement
The Anarchist Conflict With Marxism
Editor's Footnote[i]

Editor’s Note

Wildcat strike at Paris Opera

A strike at the Paris Opera has forced the cancellation of six shows, including two on Monday, and threatens to cause losses running up to 2.2 million euros (3.1 million dollars) if it continues.

Hundreds of ballet dancers, actors and stage hands are adding an artistic flourish to France's grim autumn of industrial strife, by bringing theatrical productions to a halt in protest at the government's attempts to reduce their retirement packages.

France: Strikers paralyse Paris region

Transport workers brought most of Paris and the Ile de France region to a halt today, they were joined at demonstrations by other workers and strikers.

The one-day strike was originally called by the main rail unions in protest at the end of 'special regimes' for pensions.

France: Migrant workers' occupation wins

Buffalo Grill strikers

Sacked workers occupying the Buffalo Grill restaurant for one month have beaten their employers and been re-instated with their employment status regularised.

The one-month occupation of the restaurant and parking lot of the Buffalo Grill in Viry-Chatillon outside Paris has resulted in an important victory for 20 undocumented migrant workers fired at the fast food chain.

Paris: Migrant workers occupy Buffalo Grill

Undocumented workers at the fast food chain in Paris have occupied the Buffalo Grill in Viry-Chatillon after being sacked and reported to the authorities.

The migrants, mostly of African origin, many with years of employment at the chain, face expulsion from the France of Nicolas Sarkozy to their country of origin.

Fred Vermorel in Paris, May 1968

Punk entrepreneur - Westwood

An entertaining and atmospheric account of May 68 from street level, alongside amusing correspondence betweed Fred and the libcom group.

The text is an excerpt from 'Fashion and Perversity - A Life of Vivienne Westwood And the Sixties Laid Bare', Bloomsbury, 1996.

France: Victory for KFC workers

Striking KFC workers in New Zealand, December 2005

After a three-day strike non-unionised workers at the Saint-Denis Basilique branch of KFC won a series of concessions from management.

The strikers obtained:
- The replacement of faulty machinery
- More and longer breaks
- Strike pay for all three days

The strike was accompanied by protests outside the branch. Employees from Pizza Hut (part of the same group) were present at the demonstrations.

KFC workers in New Zealand had previously won other gains by striking (see picture, above).

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