WTF is up with the French

Posted on

Administrator Since: Apr 03, 2002

www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/eu...ests/index.html

Protesting because they could maybe be fired from their jobs...ummmm...WOW...let's see DO your job, do it well, and odds are you won't...

Welcome to capitalism...

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Time Waster
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2006


Mar 29, 2006 02:12 pm

And it's only for employees under 26 YO. At any rate, they sure got unnecessarily violent in a hurry... They should save some of that for actual war sometime... :)

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 29, 2006 02:18 pm

Well, they'd have to actually go to war then... ;-)

I got fired, oh, but they call it "layed off", at 36...anyone can get fired at anytime...There must be something more to that bill, or, this is an example of liberal "but it's MY RIGHT" gone friggin MAD.

Time Waster
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2006


Mar 29, 2006 02:37 pm

It's against their socialist beliefs. You get a job and that's it, it's yours for life no matter what. So businesses are reluctant to hire or they gotta keep ya forever. This would open up employment to the younger (under 26) which is currently 23% unemployed. It's a 2 year probationary period.

The youth were just recently complaining about not being able to get jobs! This would help, but they're not goin' for it.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 29, 2006 02:40 pm

Now, while everybody has their own beliefs, that just seems silly, and remind me to never open a business over there. :-)

As a business owner, you should have every right to hire or fire who you want, when you want for whatever reason you want, it's YOUR business...if people don't like it they have every right to boycott your businesses products and/or services...thats how the free market works.

I just don't understand that thought process at all...

Time Waster
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2006


Mar 29, 2006 02:54 pm

I guess it's all unionized in France. The unions are organizing the strikes over this issue. Something like over 40 people have been injured over it?

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 29, 2006 02:57 pm

yeah, that is a very Labor Union type mentality...a mentality I have never, ever shared. Labor Unions really had their place when they were created, but have evolved from an organization that levels and balance beam to one that drops it the other direction in many cases (though not always).

During my 10 years (give or take) as a machinist I dealt with Labor Union workers all the time and they were typically the laziest most rude people, simply because they couldn't be fired...I had one guy YELL at me for asking him to sign a delivery ticket during his break...not even unload, just sign his name and the ticket...which was very typical per my experience with unions.

Unions are, in large part, responsible for the offshore outsourcing of American jobs...and they are the same people that ***** about it.

Time Waster
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2006


Mar 29, 2006 03:06 pm

Unions in the US had their place. But now we have sufficient labor laws and we don't really need representatives. They did a good thing to bring the hours down and the benefits up... Currently, they just seem to be another leech on the system...

www.TheLondonProject.ca
Member
Since: Feb 07, 2005


Mar 29, 2006 03:14 pm

Put me down for being anti-union as well. I use to be in the tradeshow/display industry and when we had to put up a display in a place like a shopping mall we had to have a union worker just stand there watching us because he wasn't skilled in the industry and we had to have a union member present. This of course just added to the cost of the job which we had to pass on to the owners. Rediculous

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 29, 2006 10:44 pm

Yep, the union thing is definately only present now to fill the union bosses pockets.

I know first hand having been a member in 3 differant unions here. As a heavy equipment operator, a machinest, and a construction laborer. Then only thing the union does is charge you dues to pay themselves and do what any good business does. Supply you with fair pay and good benifits. No more, no less these days.

As well, I know many Northwest airline emplyees who are friend and they certainly would have gone back to work if not for the union bosses who told them no. And crossing a picket line was not an option. If you were a union employee and Northwest knew it, you were not allowed to work. That was the union bosses again in all their infinite wisdom.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 30, 2006 03:22 am

Now I have to through my hat in the ring and I can speak with great accuracy on this issue as

1. I now live in france
2. I have 2 companies based over here
3. I have an employee under the age of 26

The french are a bunch of Nationalistic socialistic unionistic hipocrites.

the recent situation concerning the 'CPE' contrat Premiere Embouche, has been blown out of all propotions. The problem is that the youngsters are afraid of working for a living and having to keep a productivity rate to keep them in employment. This is a normal capitalist regime. The history of the french working ituation was one that If you had a job you had it for life. that has now changed along with all the other western countries.

The unions however are still a major force over here, which need to be pegged back (hooray for maggie thatcher back in my home country, she knew how to deal with the unions). therefore any chance or reason, valid or not the french go out on strike.

The french have still got large nationalised companies where the retirement age can start at 50+. i know a train driver who took retirement at the age of 52 with a full pension. Where the **** is the sense in that. And who has to pay for the next half of his life - i do. i do not agree with it. School teachers complain about pay and conditions. I have a friend who is a sports teacher, working maximum 22 hours a week, having at least 13 weeks paid holiday and geting in the region of 2800 USD per month. he then goes out n strike for better money. I say SACK THE LOT OF THEM.

Going back to the 'CPE' situation. i as an employer am penalised for employing someone, The contracts that were in place before meant that even if my company was in the quagmire I would have to pay a licensing fee of up to 20% of their earnings if i wanted to get rid of them on top of other charges that i ould have to make to the state to pay for their unmployemnt benefit. if a worker was sacked for bad work or other reasons i would still have to pay this highly elevated charge. the CPE & CNE (contrat nouvelle embouche for over 26, same as cpe) has enabled me to increase my workforce by 2 people on the premise of a more flexible contract meaning I can risk taking more people on and increase my work output. thus creating more revenue, more contracts and more employment. NOW THIS MAKES SENSE.

I SAY GIVE ME MORE OF THE CPE. If the young want to work then they will do a good job. if they do a good job the employer will keep them. if the employer keeps them they produce more revenue. More revenue means more money for the State. Less unemployment. i have a young 23 year old i took on 3 months ago he has already had a pay increase because he works well.

If you would like more comments on other french work issues like the 35hour working week or the minimum wage, bring it on so I can vent my frustrations about the lazy attitude a large number of french seem to have and critic the bunch of deadheads who wok in the civil service. (please please please)

Anyway thought i would share my points with you all

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 06:19 am

Vent to your hearts conent, that is the best post I have read in days.

Now REALLY remind me to never open a business over there!

Thanks very much for the insightful post.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 30, 2006 06:35 am

I am considering moving one of my business' out of the country due to its draconian tax regime.

Everyhting aside I would not recommend nyone to open a business of here unless they have a real specific reason. Like me I decided to move over here so it was my choice and that apart I have to say that it is a relatively small price to pay for living in a country which has a better moral social and familly based structure. EXCEPT ALL THIS STRIKING

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 06:54 am

doesn't france have a negative population growth rate?

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 30, 2006 07:05 am

yes it does. The country is still in the process of changing. France you could say is at least 20 years behind in a lot of ways. One reason for the negative population growth is economic. If you consider that the UK & USA are verymuch consumer based societies the expense of children is not taken into account when deciding, where as in france it still is. The minimum wage over here is 8.03Euros per hour with a theoretical working week of 35 hours. A number of employers still pay the minimum wage to people where in the UK USA higher wages are paid as a general rule. The cost of living also bears a certain amount into it as the property prices here are still relatively low due to land mass and lower levels iof infrastructure.

that added to the amount of people lost due to 2 world wars being fought on its territory, had depleted the stock of reproductive couples, which have never got back to the levels they should be

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Mar 30, 2006 07:05 am

Aha!!!

Now, not to be offensive to any French folks here as there are good/bad everywhere, I have noticed a big move towards some serious, out and out MOANING about everything of late fi the French.

MOST RECENTLY....aboot French folk NOT speaking French...all because some businessman spoke in English !!! Chirac went mad...!!

Ach, easily solved if everyone spoke like me but there it is eh...yadda yadda...moan moan!! they need (not them all, perhaps their most prominent politicans) to ligthen up, be cool and drink a beer ;-)

Coco.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 30, 2006 07:15 am

Chirac is mad!!!!!!!!!! so are most of his cabinet.

Does that mean I can go and drink a beer and finish work early Coco

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 07:37 am

Quote:
doesn't france have a negative population growth rate?


Man, there HAS to be a "gay" joke in there somewhere...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 07:39 am

Quote:
surely a whole nation cant be jackasses


Why not, I have heard Scots are... ;-)

Member
Since: Apr 26, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 07:48 am

"Now, while everybody has their own beliefs, that just seems silly, and remind me to never open a business over there. :-)

As a business owner, you should have every right to hire or fire who you want, when you want for whatever reason you want, it's YOUR business...if people don't like it they have every right to boycott your businesses products and/or services...thats how the free market works."

Holy crap! I actually agree with dB on something regarding politics! I think this is a sign of the apocolypse!

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 07:53 am

rut row, here come the four horsemen and Christ returning to earth too...DAMN, we're doomed!

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 30, 2006 08:38 am

maybe I'll do a remix of the song Gai paris just for you deebs

Eat Spam before it eats YOU!!!
Member
Since: May 11, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 11:01 am

I will admit that generally when I have something bad to say about France I actually mean Paris... :) the hostel on Rue Dutot is nice though...

It was funny... I buy a weeks worth of subway passes and the first ride I see some guy urinating on the wall... so I usually walked...it was safer, prettier, and smelled better... though it didn't smell as bad as New Jersey...

I also walked 10ft from my luggage to look at a street sign because I was lost (two duffel bags) and they were roped off by the police... yet when I went through airport security I showed my Army ID and skipped security/customs... I even joked with one of the guys about having guns on me. :)

security: So, you have all your guns in the bag?
me: no, they're on me.
security: Oh! thats good!

<TANGENT>
However after 9/11 I went though Port Columbus Airport (columbus ohio) and the guy searching my bags went on about how he came to america after being a fighter in Rawanda... :|
</TANGENT>

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 30, 2006 10:30 pm

Kaos, I must ask if you moved to France from the UK or somewhere else? Just curious really.

And I am with dB, your post is the best thing I have read as of late. Very interesting, and I as well stand behind your belief. Work hard and you will, or should be rewarded. Slack off and out the door you will go.

Johnny and dB! I think I just heard the sound of 16 angry hooves galloping past my neighborhood. Now you have gone and done it you two!

And the Gai thing, there does indeed have to be a good joke in there somewhere.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Mar 31, 2006 02:12 am

i love french fries. dang it. i really, reaally do. i like them thick cut and fried, like from buffalo wild wings. buffalo chips, theyre called. and you get them extra crispy and dip them in blue cheese.

for gods sake thats all i really know.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Mar 31, 2006 03:11 am

Noise - yea i moved from the UK to france 5 years ago. Needed to make a fresh start and all that.

Noise & dB - thanks for the compliment

Zek - paris can be the worst or best place to be. you either love it or hate it. i have friends who live in the centre and when i go i have a wail of a time. but it can be the most dirtiest smelliest place at times.

Forty - i'm glad you called them 'french fries' and not 'freedom fries' do they still exist or was is just a flash in the pan with the name change. (no i'm not setting up for a political fight)

if anyone ever gets the chance to go to paris visit the area 'Pigalle' this is a muscicians heaven. i can spend all weeked there just drooling.

in fact anyone whowant's to come over i'll put you up i am 20mins from the train conection which is 50minutes to the center of paris.

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Mar 31, 2006 12:21 pm

kaos, no one ever called the freedom fries here except right wing media. fox news personalities liked to use the term, i think. it was a kind of a joke, almost, in the senate cafeteria or wherever the hell it was, and from there the media picked it up.

but no flesh and blood human i know would have used that ridiculous term. french fries? named after freedom? i cant chomp down on a fry and think of freedom. imagine eating a fry and screaming 'freedom!' like braveheart/william wallace. no! this time is about fries. its about the food! let me escape politics for one damn minute, you know?

that was my attitude. i thought the whole thing was wildly stupid.

although i might try the 'freedom scream' next time im at mcdonalds, just to see what kind of looks i get.


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Mar 31, 2006 12:32 pm

I think everybody but the media thought it was stupid...to me they ain't french fries either, they are just "fries", always have been, always will be...

I still think the joke about the doctors wanting to work on the french rather than others is funny...cuz they are easily to work on cuz they have no heart, guts or balls...

Member
Since: Jan 18, 2003


Mar 31, 2006 12:33 pm

exactly. theyre fries.

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002


Mar 31, 2006 10:53 pm

Uummm, Buffalo Chips. Aurther Treachers and H. Salt had the best chips, fries whatever. Man they dont make resturaunts like those anymore.

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Apr 04, 2006 08:54 am

Well i suppose I have to update this thread with everything that is still going on this side f the pond.

CHIRAC is a COWARD it's official. He has recently made a statement saying he will re-write the new employment contracts together with the Unions in order to rectify the problem.

How much do you reckon he has been paid.

That in turn brings up the question of how does a 'civilised western' country allow its leader to be a crook. i do not know if you are aware but Chirac has been involved in some dodgey property dealings with other politicians, who i might add have been sentenced. The only reason as to why chirac has not been persude is because he is the 'president' and hes right of immunity*



Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 04, 2006 08:57 am

Most every president or high level official of any sort we have had in the US has at least had rumor of such things as well.

Bummer he is spineless tho...without the threat of being fired, what is supposed to encourage good work ethic...

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 10, 2006 07:30 am

So, in typical french fashion, the prime minister takes the way of the pussy and withdraws his law proposal news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=...e_contract_dc_4

Kaos is only a form of insanity
Member
Since: Feb 03, 2005


Apr 10, 2006 08:24 am

You beat me to the update to the thread dB - now that's just not fair considering I live in the sodding country and you being 000 of miles away. LOL

it just goes to show what a spineless gouvernment france has got and that the power still belongs to the poxy unions. i will be waiting to see what replacement they come up with. i just cannot get my head around their thinking.

I suppose i could also look at it from the point that the public are able to change the gouvernements mind which could be considered a good thing, but hey come on this law was not radical or detremental to anyone, as I previously stated it would stimulate employment not reduce it.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Apr 10, 2006 08:28 am

Well, yeah, the gov't listening to the people is surely a good thing, but, well in this instance it's making kids accept even less responsibility or the need to develop a good work ethic.

Member
Since: Apr 24, 2003


Apr 21, 2006 07:29 pm

i can safely say, as an englishman and neighbour to the gauls....

they're just french, you get used to it.

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