02/07/2003

Gallic show business workers and actors joined forces in a nationwide movement and called a general strike for Tuesday 8 July over the government’ plans to cut unemployment benefits. Under the current system, entertainment industry employees must work at least 507 hours over a 12-month period in order to be eligible for twelve months of benefits. The government wants to change that to 507 hours worked over 10.5 months in return for 8 months’ worth of unemployment benefits. The entertainment artist’ movement is planning a series of symbolic actions that will bring a number of important festivals and cultural events to a grinding halt. And they are determined.

Belgian actress Cécile de France ( L’auberge espagnole) spoke out in defence of the benefits for temporarily employed French artists when she won a best actress César in February. She said that the French system was one of the best in the world in terms of the protective umbrella it gave to unemployed entertainment industry workers. The government justified the cuts because of a growing deficit between contributions paid in to the scheme and benefits extended. Over the last two years, the shortfall was made up by the government to the tune of Euros862m.
On Tuesday 1 July, protestors brought all screenings at the La Rochelle Film Festival to a halt and several more cultural events are bringing the curtain down right in the middle of the summer season.
Numerous French film personalities, including Catherine Deneuve and Agnès Jaoui came out in support of temporary workers and an open letter will be sent to the minister for culture, Jean-Jacques Aillagon. Pascal Thomas, the head of the French film directors’ guild called for the "annulment of this ridiculous plan which is putting not only directors, but also make up artists, scene-shifters, lighting people... Directors will be unable to make films. "

(Translated from French)