The French universities are re-opening. Student demonstrators were calmed when the government withdrew its bill giving employers the right to fire new employees without showing cause. The occupation lasting two months is over.

The infamous “first contract” for young workers designed in response to last year’s riots against police violence by young French citizens from recent immigrant families, created this year’s mass demonstrations, and student strike action.

All the traditional anti-French voices reject the action by the students. The Economist is furious: We are the magazine of market capitalism, and you had better listen to our message, labour market flexibility is the key to reducing French unemployment. But, this daddy-knows- best, and it-is-for-your-own-good bromide coming from the right has not had much impact on French public opinion, or the protesters.

The dramatic action by young people and their labour allies won the day because human rights are taken seriously in France. The right to equal treatment trumps the power of the employer. The government had to recognize this, and back away.

In the U.S. a law designed to send illegal immigrants back home has got people into the street in large numbers to protest in various cities. This is an anti-Mexican, anti-Latino law, and there is no attempt to disguise it.

Like France, the U.S. is a republic, and citizens have rights. The illegal immigrants do not enjoy the protection of citizenship rights, and their fate is clear should the law pass.

Most of the critics of France point to the superior employment performance of the U.S. While the difference is over-stated when normalized figures are used to adjust U.S. reporting of unemployment, one thing is sure: it is much easier to be an employer in the U.S. With low wages, and no social benefits to speak of outside Social Security (an age benefit) it costs less to employ people. Workers without much access to unemployment insurance, or health care unrelated to employment, or even adequate welfare payments, are desperate for work.

Short of holiday time, and absent legislated hours of work comparable to the 35 hours a week law in France, people work far more hours in the U.S. than in France. Lacking pension income to supplement Social Security cheques, older Americans are still in the labour force. Retirement is not an option for many.

As has been sung, written, told and repeated around the world for decades, go to Paris anytime, but especially in the spring. The air is soft, the flowers are in bloom, the winter grey is fading, and the people are in the streets, walking, stopping to shop, or for a coffee. Paris belongs to the Parisians, and to anyone lucky enough to be visiting.

One of the reasons that the idyllic rendering of Paris and the reality are so surprisingly alike is that employment laws are strong, and protect the workers. France has a surprisingly low rate of unionization. Parliaments have voted these laws. Workers’ rights are not subject to contract negotiation.

France was conquered, and Paris occupied, within living memory of its retired population. Workers’ rights, and much else, were hard won through years of action by French Socialists, Communists and the Gaullists who were anxious to keep their left wing adversaries out of power.

The French students were paying attention to French history. Now they can celebrate this spring with their very own victory.

Duncan Cameron

Duncan Cameron

Born in Victoria B.C. in 1944, Duncan now lives in Vancouver. Following graduation from the University of Alberta he joined the Department of Finance (Ottawa) in 1966 and was financial advisor to the...