CGT

"SMS and Facebook work really well. People discuss these matters all night. The next day they are organised."

Members of the massive French union confederation CGT (Confederation Generale du Travail) joined with other union confederations, taking from the streets to the freeways and regional highways in France. Members used slow driving to slow traffic and others distributed information to drivers and passengers all over France, and encouraged ordinary citizens to express their support. School students and young workers continue to participate.The striking had gone into a new organisational mode.

This article updates the French general strikes first described in this article describing events of 12 October 2010. 1.3-2.5m French demonstrate against raising retirement age

Update 13 October 2010: French Unions leaflet drivers in snail road campaign over retirement age

Source of pictureshttp://jt.france2.fr/20h/

Members of the massive French CGT (Confederation General de Travail) joined other unions, taking from the streets to the freeways and regional highways in France. Members used slow driving to slow traffic and others distributed information to drivers and passengers all over France, and encouraged ordinary citizens to express their support.

The striking had gone into a new organisational mode.

Young workers

Young workers expressed themselves in groups outside factories and marching in the streets.

"You only have to look at your parents when they come home from work half dead to know that working longer is a bad idea."

One said that you have only to look at the state their parents return home from work of an evening to know that it is a bad idea to extend working years. They return home half-dead.

High school children

High school children and young workers were also much in evidence again. 3 per cent of high schools were said to have participated, according to Actualites Francaises (http://jt.france2.fr/20h/

As one girl said, "SMS and Facebook work really well. People discussed issues all night." Obviously French youth are using electronic opportunities to organise, along with their parents and compatriots.

French Government worried at political awareness of young people

In what looks like a defensive rear-guard action by the government, which feels threatened by real political engagement of young people in France, Ségolène Royal, who, in 2008 contested leadership of the French Socialist Party was accused in parliament of having inadvisedly mobilised schoolchildren in the streets. She defended herself by saying that she had advised them to participate safely.