BY NAT LONDON AND DEREK JEFFERS
PARIS - Less than one week after the formation of the new French government led by the Socialist and Communist Parties, 70,000 workers rallied on June 10 in Paris for jobs, a shorter workweek, and against the closing of the Renault plant in Vilvoorde, Belgium. Thousands of Renault auto workers participated in the demonstration, including 600 people from Vilvoorde.

The large turnout for this national union-organized gathering showed the determination of working people to continue to press forward their demands, which was also reflected in their rejection of the Juppé government's austerity policies in the June 1 legislative elections. Many workers at the rally explained their hopes after the election results, but also their determination to watch the new government carefully.

"The financiers will impose their views if the masses don't move," Michel, a participant in the demonstration, told the national French daily Liberation. "It was proven to us in 1981 that voting isn't enough," he added. Michel is a unionist from the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT) at a SNECMA aerospace plant.

The last government led by the SP and CP was formed in 1981. Workers bitterly view that government as having betrayed their interests. Today, many people are discussing today how to avoid repeating the same experience.

The demonstration had been planned prior to the election, as part of a series of actions in European capital cities for jobs. All the major unions, with the notable exception of Workers Force (FO), called for the labor action.

Later on June 10, under pressure from the new government and the protest actions, Renault announced it had asked "an independent expert" to examine all possible alternatives to the closing of the Vilvoorde plant and to report back by the end of June. The plant closing is still scheduled for the end of July.  
 
 
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