Thousands of public sector workers join protest

The CMKOS trade union confederation coordinated a day of protests and warning strikes on 27 November in a campaign against government policies. The unions are concerned that the government wants to impose a new round of austerity, including pay freezes for public service workers. The key CMKOS demands also cover pensions and retirement age, protection for real wages and the funding and provision of quality public services. Health and care union OSZSP mobilised around the country and the OSSOO state workers’ union was one of five CMKOS affiliates that organised hour-long warning strikes.

Thousands of health workers joined the demonstration in Paris on 21 May called by seven unions - CGT, Sud, FO, CFDT, Unsa, CFTC, CGC - that organise workers at the AP-HP public hospitals in the Paris region. They were also joined by a managerial union SMPS. The protesters gathered outside the office of the AP-HP director who received a delegation of union representatives. The director claimed that the 35-hour week was not under threat but the AP-HP plan was to reorganise working time. Trade unionists from outside Paris joined the march as there are concerns that any changes introduced at such