Article: Workers Mount Massive Rallies To Protest French Welfare Cuts

Striking public service workers staged the biggest show of strength yet in their 19-day-old showdown with Prime Minister Alain Juppe's cost-cutting government, mounting massive protest demonstrations here and in cities across the country.

In Paris, about 50,000 people with drums, trumpets, whistles, signal flares and firecrackers created a defiant din as they marched across the city angrily denouncing a government austerity plan aimed at cutting workers' pensions and welfare benefits. Police said about 120,000 people marched in the port city of Marseille, while tens of thousands rallied in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rouen, Rennes, Caen and Nice.

Meanwhile, there was no train service nationwide, and ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!