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Strikes, Indian soldiers in Paris, Sunday working...

by Tony Cross

Article published on the 2009-07-17 Latest update 2009-07-20 18:20 TU

(Photo: AFP)

In a new weekly article, we let you have your say. Here are some of the comments from emails, tweets and Facebook messages by visitors to RFI's website. This week, striking French workers, including us at RFI, Indian soldiers on the Champs Elysées and much more ...

"The French know how to strike," comments Gary Harrison on Facebook, after reading our report of carworkers who threatened to blow up their factory if they weren't offered higher lay-off pay.

They've withdrawn the threat now, at least for the moment, amid debate as to whether they really meant it or whether they were just trying to get into the headlines. If it was the latter, their ambition was certainly fulfilled.

Nicholas J Evancik agrees with Gary. In fact his remark brings another industrial dispute to his mind.

"I have been missing the English-language service of RFI because of a strike action," he says.

But, he adds, "I support their strike, but not being able to listen to the English broadcasts was a bit of a loss, primarily because of the high quality of RFI's news coverage."

The RFI strike is now suspended but could start again in the autumn if  no agreement is reached before then.

Reactions to the dispute were varied.

"Time to settle or something!" wrote Murielle Hunt from Peoria in the US. "This is going on too long for a radio station! And I love the programs! Maybe your union people are not that good!"

But others enthusiastically backed the action. One Italian fan set up a blog supporting the strike in several languages.

Also on the labour front, Charls Smyth of Belfast, Northern Ireland, is sceptical about opposition to Sunday working, the subject of a controversial law being put through the French parliament at the moment.

"Sunday working was very much opposed in Northern Ireland, for example," he writes. "But it has not met with much opposition after people became used to it. Those who still object, simply stay at home or do other things."

French trade unions can't expect social services to be maintained if working hours are reduced, he says.

"I was interested in the article about Indian soldiers," writes Steve Hamilton, who runs Western Desert Battlefield Tours. "During both World Wars there was no conscription in India, every man that served volunteered as a matter of honour. During the siege of Tobruk during WWII the Indian troops layed what is termed as a 'desert mosque'. It is still there to this day."

Staying with India, a background piece on communal violence in the state of Gujarat, which was attached to the report of deaths from drinking illegal alcohol there, angered Ral Bujharat of Lucknow.

"A Very Biased Article," was his comment.