1995 strikes in France
Encyclopedia
The 1995 strikes in France were a series of general strike
s in France
, mostly in the public sector
in late 1995. The strikes received great popular support despite paralyzing the country's transportation infrastructure. The strikes occurred in the context of a larger social movement against the new Juppé
government's agenda, which was arguably the largest social movement
in France since May 1968.
The November-December 1995 general strike has been seen as a turning point in the social movement. Many organisations were created in the aftermath of these strikes.
(including France Télécom
) and 2 million in the private and semi-public sector (including SNCF
, RATP, Air France
and Air Inter
). In this last sector, the average number of strike-days from 1982 to 1994 had been of 1,1 millions a year (while it was 3.3 millions from 1971 to 1981). Starting in November, the SNCF and the RATP were paralyzed for two months. Despite the inconveniences, public support remained firmly with the strikers. People started hitch-hiking and sharing cars to go to work, using bikes, etc.
(RPR
right-wing party) had been elected president
. The new prime minister Alain Juppé
then proposed an extensive program of welfare cutbacks, the Juppé Plan, intended to reduce the budget deficit from 5% to 3% as required by the 1993 Maastricht treaty
. October and November saw a students' movement against the conservative agenda of the new government and its perceived attack on women's rights
, notably the right to abortion
. On 10 October and 24 November, a pay freeze on the public sector was met by civil servants' strikes supported by all major trade union
s (CGT
, CFDT, FO
, etc.). The Juppé Plan was also a target of this strike.
In December, the railway workers were called on strike against the Juppé Plan by their unions nationwide, and paralyzed France's railway system. The main grievances for the railway workers were the loss of the right to retire
at age 55 and an SNCF
restructuring plan which was to eliminate thousands of jobs and which was imposed on the workers by SNCF management without negotiation. The railway workers were joined by Paris
's metro
personnel, postal
workers, school teachers and others. The strikes spread from Paris, soon effectively covering the entire country, and major demonstrations were organized in both Paris and in the provinces.
The strike was called off on 15 December, when Juppé dropped the retirement reform plan.
General strike
A general strike is a strike action by a critical mass of the labour force in a city, region, or country. While a general strike can be for political goals, economic goals, or both, it tends to gain its momentum from the ideological or class sympathies of the participants...
s in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, mostly in the public sector
Public sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
in late 1995. The strikes received great popular support despite paralyzing the country's transportation infrastructure. The strikes occurred in the context of a larger social movement against the new Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
government's agenda, which was arguably the largest social movement
Social movement
Social movements are a type of group action. They are large informal groupings of individuals or organizations focused on specific political or social issues, in other words, on carrying out, resisting or undoing a social change....
in France since May 1968.
The November-December 1995 general strike has been seen as a turning point in the social movement. Many organisations were created in the aftermath of these strikes.
Figures
The DARES statistical institute of the Ministry of Employment counted 6 million strike days (summing up each individual's decision to go on strike, per day) in 1995, against 1 million the previous year. Among these 6 million strike-days, 4 million were in the public sectorPublic sector
The public sector, sometimes referred to as the state sector, is a part of the state that deals with either the production, delivery and allocation of goods and services by and for the government or its citizens, whether national, regional or local/municipal.Examples of public sector activity range...
(including France Télécom
France Télécom
France Telecom S.A. is the main telecommunications company in France, the third-largest in Europe and one of the largest in the world. It currently employs about 180,000 people and has 192.7 million customers worldwide . In 2010 the group had revenue of €45.5 billion...
) and 2 million in the private and semi-public sector (including SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
, RATP, Air France
Air France
Air France , stylised as AIRFRANCE, is the French flag carrier headquartered in Tremblay-en-France, , and is one of the world's largest airlines. It is a subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group and a founding member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance...
and Air Inter
Air Inter
Air Inter was a semi-public French domestic airline. Before its merger with Air France, the airline was headquartered in Paray-Vieille-Poste, Essonne. Earlier in its life, it was headquartered in the 1st arrondissement of Paris.Air Inter was incorporated on 12 November 1954...
). In this last sector, the average number of strike-days from 1982 to 1994 had been of 1,1 millions a year (while it was 3.3 millions from 1971 to 1981). Starting in November, the SNCF and the RATP were paralyzed for two months. Despite the inconveniences, public support remained firmly with the strikers. People started hitch-hiking and sharing cars to go to work, using bikes, etc.
Events
In May 1995, Jacques ChiracJacques Chirac
Jacques René Chirac is a French politician who served as President of France from 1995 to 2007. He previously served as Prime Minister of France from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988 , and as Mayor of Paris from 1977 to 1995.After completing his studies of the DEA's degree at the...
(RPR
Rally for the Republic
The Rally for the Republic , was a French right-wing political party. Originating from the Union of Democrats for the Republic , it was founded by Jacques Chirac in 1976 and presented itself as the heir of Gaullism...
right-wing party) had been elected president
French presidential election, 1995
Presidential elections took place in France on 23 April and 7 May 1995, to elect the fifth president of the Fifth Republic.The incumbent Socialist president, François Mitterrand, did not stand for a third term. He was 78, had cancer, and his party had lost the previous legislative election in a...
. The new prime minister Alain Juppé
Alain Juppé
Alain Marie Juppé is a French politician currently serving as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He also served as Prime Minister of France from 1995 to 1997 under President Jacques Chirac and the Minister of Defence and Veterans Affairs from 2010 to 2011...
then proposed an extensive program of welfare cutbacks, the Juppé Plan, intended to reduce the budget deficit from 5% to 3% as required by the 1993 Maastricht treaty
Maastricht Treaty
The Maastricht Treaty was signed on 7 February 1992 by the members of the European Community in Maastricht, Netherlands. On 9–10 December 1991, the same city hosted the European Council which drafted the treaty...
. October and November saw a students' movement against the conservative agenda of the new government and its perceived attack on women's rights
Women's rights
Women's rights are entitlements and freedoms claimed for women and girls of all ages in many societies.In some places these rights are institutionalized or supported by law, local custom, and behaviour, whereas in others they may be ignored or suppressed...
, notably the right to abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. On 10 October and 24 November, a pay freeze on the public sector was met by civil servants' strikes supported by all major trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s (CGT
Confédération générale du travail
The General Confederation of Labour is a national trade union center, the first of the five major French confederations of trade unions.It is the largest in terms of votes , and second largest in terms of membership numbers.Its membership decreased to 650,000 members in 1995-96 The General...
, CFDT, FO
Force Ouvrière
The General Confederation of Labor - Workers' Force is one of the five major union federations in France. In terms of following, it is the third behind the CGT and the CFDT....
, etc.). The Juppé Plan was also a target of this strike.
In December, the railway workers were called on strike against the Juppé Plan by their unions nationwide, and paralyzed France's railway system. The main grievances for the railway workers were the loss of the right to retire
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
at age 55 and an SNCF
SNCF
The SNCF , is France's national state-owned railway company. SNCF operates the country's national rail services, including the TGV, France's high-speed rail network...
restructuring plan which was to eliminate thousands of jobs and which was imposed on the workers by SNCF management without negotiation. The railway workers were joined by Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
's metro
RER
The RER is a rapid transit system in France serving Paris and its suburbs. The RER is an integration of a modern city-centre underground rail and a pre-existing set of commuter rail lines. It has several connections with the Paris Métro within the city of Paris. Within the city, the RER...
personnel, postal
La Poste (France)
La Poste is the mail service of France, which also operates postal services in the French Overseas Departments of Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, and the territorial collectivities of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Mayotte...
workers, school teachers and others. The strikes spread from Paris, soon effectively covering the entire country, and major demonstrations were organized in both Paris and in the provinces.
The strike was called off on 15 December, when Juppé dropped the retirement reform plan.
See also
- 2010 strikes in France
- November 2007 strikes in FranceNovember 2007 strikes in FranceThe 2007 strikes in France were a series of general strikes, mostly in the public sector, which started on 13 November 2007. The strike was over President Nicolas Sarkozy's and Prime Minister François Fillon's attempt to reduce early retirement benefits for 500,000 public employees...
- 2006 labour protests in France2006 labour protests in FranceThe 2006 youth protests in France occurred throughout France during February, March, and April 2006 as a result of opposition to a measure set to deregulate labour...
- French Fifth RepublicFrench Fifth RepublicThe Fifth Republic is the fifth and current republican constitution of France, introduced on 4 October 1958. The Fifth Republic emerged from the collapse of the French Fourth Republic, replacing the prior parliamentary government with a semi-presidential system...
