[Imc-uk-features] Feature: Millions to Join Student Fight Against CPE

[Planet Mail]

hiya,  here's main text for cpe feature - might as well put up now on uk / 
world / workers / eductation
text body with background and more links to follow
still have to get links from other indy posts and features as well
ciao,
dave

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Pic proposal (hmm that's a tough one...
sorbonne banner?
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2006/03/336059.jpg
'place de sorbonne' sign changed to 'place de la precarite'?
http://www.libcom.org/gallery/v/news/france-cpe/paris-march14/DSC08986.JPG.html
standard riot pic?
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/images/2006/03/335828.jpg

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Title:  Millions to Join Student Fight Against CPE

<b>Saturday 18th March: Update</b><br>
Over a Million people are taking to the streets of France following weeks
of student unrest. <br>
For breaking news see French IMCs: <a 
href="http://paris.indymedia.org">Paris</a>
| <a href="http://lille.indymedia.org">Lille</a> | <a
href="http://toulouse.indymedia.org">Toulouse</a> | <a
href="http://marseille.indymedia.org">Marseille</a> | <a
href="http://nantes.indymedia.org">Nantes</a> and <a
href="http://www.libcom.org/blog/">Libcom Blog</a>
<br>
<br>
Since the start of March, protests, occupations and direct action
against the new <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335990.html">CPE
employment law</a> in France has been increasing, with university and
school students leading the dissent. Hundreds of thousands of people
have taken to the streets in hundreds of demonstrations. <a
href="http://www.libcom.org/gallery/v/news/france-cpe/nantes-station-blockade-march-14/">Railways
have been blockaded</a>, airports disrupted, and up to two thirds of
France's <a
href="http://www.stopcpe.net/cpe/2006/03/14/162-59-universites-sur-84-sont-desormais-en-greve">universities
have been occupied</a> or disrupted, as well as many
schools. Clashes with police have occured throughout the country. <br>
<br>
On Thursday 16th March <a
href="http://www.globalproject.info/IMG/gif/h_4_CPE_2.gif">well over
300,000 people</a> took part in growing protests throughout France [<a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335995.html">report and
pics</a>]
as more universities were occupied, roads blockaded and the town hall
in Rennes was occupied. In Paris up to 120,000 protested [<a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/336054.html">report and
pics</a> | <a
href="http://www.libcom.org/gallery/v/news/france-cpe/paris-school-occupations-protests/">gallery</a>]
followed by clashes with police using tear gas, rubber
bullets and water cannon [<a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/336061.html">report and
pics</a> | <a
href="http://www.libcom.org/gallery/v/news/france-cpe/paris-march16/">gallery</a>].
Around 150 arrests were made in Paris bringing the total to
around 300, with over 40 police injured. (See also Censier University
occupation <a href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/336046.html">report
and pics</a>).<br>
<br>
Much international publicity came from the <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335554.html">occupation</a>
and violent <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335606.html">eviction</a>
by riot police of the <b>Sorbonne
university</b> in Paris on Saturday 10th March [<a
href="http://thibautcho.free.fr/video/sorbonfire.wmv">Video</a> | <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335709.html">Report + Pics</a>
| <a
href="http://www.libcom.org/gallery/v/news/france-cpe/sorbonne100306/">Gallery
1</a> <a href="http://www.phototheque.org/174.html?page=1">2</a>]. On
Tuesday 14th the protests escalated as a student day of action saw
thousands of school students taking part in occupations and blockades [<a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335827.html">report
and pics</a> | <a
href="http://thibautcho.free.fr/2bgal/disp_serie.php?id_album=128&amp;offset=0">gallery</a>]
as well as more street fighting around the Sorbonne area [<a
href="http://www.libcom.org/gallery/v/news/france-cpe/paris-march14/">gallery</a>].<br>
<br>
The CPE is a new employment contract due to take effect in April. The
CPE would allow firms to hire
people aged under 26 for a two-year trial period, during which they
could be easily dismissed without a reason. Students and others
complain this will only increase the <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precarity">precarity</a> of
everyday life in France where unemployment currently runs at 10% See
other reports [<a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335558.html">1</a> | <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335556.html">2</a> | <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/335774.html">3</a> | <a
href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/336074.html">4</a> ]
<br>