https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from France in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed France does not want to treat its workers like the UK and US, with zero hours contracts and no protection for the unemployed, Philippe Martinez, the head of the hardline CGT, France's biggest trade union, has said. https://www.thelocal.fr/20180112/french-union-chief-slams-workers-rights-in-uk-and-us Fri, 12 Jan 2018 17:54:08 +0100 french-union-chief-slams-workers-rights-in-uk-and-us The first talks between French trade unions and the government in months have failed to find a compromise that would have ended the ongoing strikes and street protests. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160617/strikes-in-france-union-to-holds-crunch-talks-with-ministers Fri, 17 Jun 2016 13:07:23 +0200 strikes-in-france-union-to-holds-crunch-talks-with-ministers In an open letter to the man attempting to bring France to a standstill, a business owner tells him to stop living in the past and stop 'pissing everyone off.' https://www.thelocal.fr/20160527/france-strikes-cgt-union-martinez-youre-pissing-everyone-off Fri, 27 May 2016 17:32:53 +0200 france-strikes-cgt-union-martinez-youre-pissing-everyone-off The battle between the hardline CGT union and the French government over the labour reforms has been described a sa fight to the death. Who will emerge as winners? https://www.thelocal.fr/20160526/the-french-union-in-the-fight-to-death-with-fovernment Thu, 26 May 2016 11:16:16 +0200 the-french-union-in-the-fight-to-death-with-fovernment As strikes against France's labour law rumble on, Wednesday is set to be a difficult day for rail travel, with some lines operating at less than half their normal service. Find out how you might be affected. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160518/off-the-rails-france-hit-by-nationwide-train-strikes Wed, 18 May 2016 12:20:21 +0200 off-the-rails-france-hit-by-nationwide-train-strikes From Tuesday and throughout the rest of the week, a new wave of strikes and protests is set to throw France's transport system into chaos. https://www.thelocal.fr/20160517/france-to-be-hit-by-week-of-transport-strikes-and-protests Tue, 17 May 2016 12:10:52 +0200 france-to-be-hit-by-week-of-transport-strikes-and-protests A union representative working at the Paris Opera House has racked up a €52,000 phone bill after using his cellphone while on holiday to organise a strike. https://www.thelocal.fr/20151029/french-unionist-racks-up-52k-holiday-phone-bill Thu, 29 Oct 2015 17:56:43 +0100 french-unionist-racks-up-52k-holiday-phone-bill France’s top union boss was bogged down in an embarrassing scandal this week over the cost of the refurbishment of his luxury rented apartment, which reportedly included a new €1,397 lavatory seat and €700 spent on a loo roll holder and towel rack. https://www.thelocal.fr/20141106/french-union-splashes-out-1000-on-bosses-loo-seat Thu, 06 Nov 2014 10:55:00 +0100 french-union-splashes-out-1000-on-bosses-loo-seat One of France's top labour unions was facing uncomfortable questions on Wednesday over reports it had spent €130,000 to rehab an apartment for its top boss. Plans for property had at one point included a wine cellar and home cinema. https://www.thelocal.fr/20141029/french-union-spends-130k-to-fix-bosss-flat Wed, 29 Oct 2014 14:08:00 +0100 french-union-spends-130k-to-fix-bosss-flat As public anger continues to grow over the nine-day rail strike, there was at last some encouraging news from France’s largest union of rail workers, which said the industrial action had reached a “turning point”. https://www.thelocal.fr/20140619/french-rail-workers-strike-for-ninth-day Thu, 19 Jun 2014 12:53:00 +0200 french-rail-workers-strike-for-ninth-day The Socialist government's plans to reform France's debt-ridden pension system, to be presented to ministers this month, fail to address the core problems and could spark fresh tensions with Brussels, experts say. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130902/dangerous-pension-reforms-to-test-government Mon, 02 Sep 2013 11:04:00 +0200 dangerous-pension-reforms-to-test-government France's lower house has adopted controversial labour law reforms that supporters say are crucial to boosting jobs and competitiveness, but opponents have blasted as unfair for workers. https://www.thelocal.fr/20130410/france-reaches-controversial-labour-deal Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:18:00 +0200 france-reaches-controversial-labour-deal