Newsstands empty due to protests
Distribution of many French newspapers and magazines is disrupted today, however Connexion is unaffected
FRENCH national papers and magazines have not been delivered to the newsstands across the country today as protesting employees blocked distribution.
Workers at Presstalis, a firm distributing more than 100 newspapers and several thousand magazines, are upset over plans for layoffs.
They occupied many of the firm’s 120 depots and blocked several processing centres as well as going on strike at Presstalis subsidiary Société de Presse Paris Service.
As a result France’s 20 largest urban areas have been deprived of papers and magazines today – a day when many weeklies magazines normally hit the stands.
Negotiations with bosses and unions have been taking place at several sites.
The unions refuse forced lay-offs or plans for certain tasks to be outsourced. They are also disgruntled that a planned meeting at the Elysée with President Hollande’s staff has been put off until January, officially because of diary reasons.
A restructuring plan proposed by the heads of the firm suggests laying off half of the 2,500 staff. Presstalis was saved from bankruptcy a few weeks ago with the injection of several million of public funds.
Connexion is unaffected by the disruption, although the best way to ensure you get every copy is to subscribe (visit Subscriptions or call Nathalie on 06 40 61 71 97 or 0844 256 9881 from the UK, at 4p per minute).
Photo: Yuri Acurs www.fotolia.com
