French Unions March in Paris Over Electric, Gas Privatisation

French unions have promised more actions over the government’s plan to partially privatise the country’s electric and gas industries. Some 10,000 workers and supporters marched in Paris 29 June, the day the National Assembly passed a bill changing the statutes of the Electricité de France and Gaz de France to limited liability companies. The French Senate must still vote on the proposed liberalization and implementation decrees also must be issued. ICEM affiliates FCE-CFDT and Fédéchimie CGT FO are leading the resistance.