The demands were addressed to the French Minister of the Civil Service, Guillaume Kasbarian, but the Government was forced to dissolve by the censure motion of the day before. However, thousands of people have concentrated on the more than 160 demonstrations held throughout the French State to protest against the call for a strike for the civil service. As far as Ipar Euskal Herria is concerned, some 1,600 people have met in the streets of Baiona. They have mobilized to call for more resources for public services and to denounce the government’s austerity policy.

In Ipar Euskal Herria, following the guidelines of Urdin Herri Irratia, also in Iparralde, the incidence of strike has been higher in education. Firstly, 70% subscribe to the trade union call, and secondly, 50% to the trade union call. The French Ministry of Education has 31.32 per cent of the follow up of the strike throughout the French State. In general, however, mobilization has been felt both in transport and in health and other public services. The trade unions have welcomed the follow-up to the midday strike in the Basque Country.

At the moment, everything is standing

In this debate on the government’s budget, three objectives have to do with increasing the disagreement of trade unions: that the first three days of work stoppage are not paid – at present workers lose one – that the reward received on the scale is 10% lower and that the overpricing that is usually given to officials to cover the drop in purchasing power is eliminated. However, the motion of censure tabled by former Prime Minister Michel Barnier, under Article 49.3 of the Constitution, by the adoption of the Social Security budgets has meant that all these measures remain in the budget.