A-Infos (en) France, UCL AL #370 - History - 2006: The Streets Win the Withdrawal of the CPE! (ca, de, fr, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

Twenty years ago, a student and high school movement, joined by workers 
and supported by the general public, succeeded in withdrawing the First 
Employment Contract (CPE), a precarious contract for those under 26. 
---- On October 27, 2005, in Clichy-sous-Bois, Zyed Benna and Bouna 
Traoré were killed while being pursued by the police. This sparked riots 
that engulfed working-class neighborhoods. The security response was 
followed by a political one based on the prejudice that young people 
from working-class neighborhoods were far removed from employment. In 
January 2006, Dominique de Villepin, then Prime Minister, announced the 
poorly named Equal Opportunities Law (LEC), which introduced 
apprenticeships starting at age 14, night work from age 15, and the 
suspension of family allowances in cases of school absenteeism, as well 
as the CPE (First Employment Contract), a contract reserved for those 
under 26 that could be terminated without cause during a trial period 
extended to two years.

Rennes 2 and Poitiers were the first universities to vote for a strike 
on February 7, initiating a massive and determined three-month movement 
of students. On February 7, inter-professional demonstrations brought 
together 400,000 workers. This number would swell to 3 million during 
the strike days of March 28 and April 4.

The movement is characterized by strong self-organization: universities 
and high schools organize themselves into General Assemblies (GAs) and 
coordinate their efforts. The national student coordination body, 
composed of delegations mandated by the GAs, plays a crucial role in 
coordinating the struggle at the national level.

The movement is extremely popular, and even if the protests don't gain 
traction, significant inter-professional mobilizations in the workplace 
bolster its support.

On March 31, 2006, in a televised address watched by 20.6 million 
people, President Jacques Chirac announced that he would promulgate the 
Equal Opportunities Law, including provisions relating to the CPE (First 
Employment Contract), while also demanding that no contract be signed 
without amending the most contested provisions. The movement is at its 
peak, and most universities are paralyzed by the strike. Disruptive 
actions are multiplying. On April 10, Dominique de Villepin announced 
that "the conditions are not met" for the CPE (First Employment 
Contract) to be implemented. The street protests had just forced the 
government and employers to back down, compelling them to abandon a 
contract that symbolized the spread of job insecurity. They had revived 
the prospect of widespread strikes and secured one of the last major 
victories at the interprofessional level.

Aurélien (UCL Montreuil)

https://www.unioncommunistelibertaire.org/?2006-la-rue-gagne-le-retrait-du-CPE
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