A-Infos (en) Britain, Anarchist federation RESISTANCE #117 - Barricades, blockades and bossnappings across the channel

As the effects of the recession continue to bite, we could do a lot worse than to take a 
few tips from our French fellow workers, who’re continuing to fight back with an 
impressive militancy and diversity of tactics. -- At France Telecom, workers spontaneously 
walked off the job at the end of September after the 24 FT worker to commit suicide in 18 
months left a note blaming work pressures for their decision. Over 100 of his immediate 
colleagues walked out, and they were supported by over 200 workers downing tools in 
Bordeaux and a demonstration of 600 workers at the company’s regional head-quarters in 
Lyon. Since then, the company’s Deputy CEO has resigned, yet another worker has committed 
suicide, leading to calls for further action.

With conditions on the job so intolerable
that they drive staff to kill themselves,
it doesn’t look like France Telecom’s
workforce will be backing
down any time soon.

Striking transport work-
ers in Lyon occupied the
head office of Keolis, the
company that runs the city’s
public transport, after man-
agement refused to offer
concessions despite six days
of strike action. The strikes
were provoked by Keolis
attempting to change their
contracts without compensa-
tion or consultation.

Cross-Channel ferry serv-
ices were shut down after
SeaFrance workers block-
aded the port of Calais over
threatened job losses. 300
workers assembled at the
port and used a dinghy to
prevent ships from docking.
The 24-hour strike offered
an impressive example of the
power of industrial action, as
the Calais workers were able
to cause serious disruption on
both sides of the Channel.

Thousands of farmers took
militant action across France
demanding protection for their
livelihoods. They set up burn-
ing barricades on the Champs
Elysees in Paris, dumped
wine, eggs and manure in town
squares, and dumped a mas-
sive amount of soil outside the
town hall in Poitiers, making
the town’s main road unusable.

Employees at the Rohm and
Hass chemical plant locked
their boss up overnight over
threats to close the factory.
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