Minimum strike service in schools

The French government wants to impose a minimum service on primary schools in case of strike action.

Education minister Xavier Darcos (pictured) this week presented a proposed law to unions that would insure children the right to go to school despite industrial action.

In case of strike action, 10% of those refusing to work would have to attend schools to make sure children were cared for and supervised while their colleagues were absent.

The law would also force unions to give at least 48 hours notice of strikes.

President Nicolas Sarkozy has indicated that he wants the law to be put in place before the end of the academic year.

The move was largely condemned by teaching unions who said it would undermine their constitutional right to strike.

Unions leaders are meeting today to discuss their reaction to the proposed law.

The head of the FSU union G�rard Aschieri said: "It is totally unacceptable. In any case the obligation to give 48 hours notice means nothing, seeing as we always warn parents before striking anyway."

A spokesman for the SNUIpp-FSU teachers union added: "The text of this law does not seem to be aimed at the needs of families.

"It is more an imposition of ideological constraints on the unions.

"There is a total ignorance of the realities of the pressures in the teaching profession.

"The government is trying to impose its will on the professional conscience of the teaching profession."

Photo: David Mendibourne