BY NAT LONDON

PARIS - "Massively reduce work time to create jobs," read the lead banner at the head of the May 23 union demonstration here. The banner expressed the theme of the national day of actions and demonstrations throughout France called by the French Confederation of Democratic Labor (CFDT) and supported by other unions, particularly the General Confederation of Labor (CGT). The CFDT calls for reducing the work week to 32 hours. The CGT calls for a 35 hour week with no cut in pay. The current work week is 39 hours.

The Paris demonstration drew more than 10,000 people in the middle of a working day. Workers in a number of shops took part in work stoppages so that they could demonstrate.

The march was the first of a series of national actions called by different unions over the next few weeks. On May 29 several independent unions including one of the teachers' unions, have called a national day of action and a demonstration in Paris.

The next day there will be a demonstration of retired workers called by the retired workers' sections of four different trade union confederations.

On June 4 the telecommunication workers of France Télécom will be out on a one-day national strike. France Télécom is a public service company that the government of Prime Minister Alain Juppé has threatened to privatize. June 5 will be the turn of the gas and electric workers. A national strike called by three unions will include a national demonstration in Paris.

The following day, June 6, will see a strike and national demonstration in Paris called by five of the federations of railway unions. The railroad workers were at the head of the massive workers upsurge that shook the French government last November and December.

Workers in France continue to face attacks on social benefits, downsizing, and attempts to privatize public services. The government has announced new budget restrictions reducing the number of civil servants and blocking wage increases.

On May 22, 1,500 Alcatel workers from Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, and France participated in a Paris demonstration to protest planned cut backs. Alcatel's telecommunications equipment branch has announced plans to cut 40,000 of its 95,000 jobs in Europe. The lead banner read "European workers united for jobs."

The same day another demonstration drew about 1,500 marchers to defend 300 undocumented workers who have been demanding regular immigration papers. The police expelled the immigrant workers from a church and a gymnasium they had occupied. Later, the CFDT railroad workers union invited the 300 immigrants and their families to move into an unoccupied rail freight warehouse in Paris. On May 23, the undocumented workers joined the demonstration for a shorter work week.

Nat London is a member of the CGT at the Renault plant at Choisy-le-roi.  
 
 
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