Activists also halted shooting of the new Jack Nicholson movie in Paris, where riot police also removed demonstrators trying to stop the Rolling Stones concert at the Stade de France.
The catalyst behind the strikes is the French government's decision to change the workings of the unemployment fund for theatre, dance, film and music professionals, which currently takes into account their time-off between shows. The fund is 825 million Euros in deficit and the government is now insisting that benefits need to be cut. The artists claim the proposed changes will harm French culture and punish those who cannot find work.
A freelance producer who wished to remain anonymous, commented: "The other side of the problem is that TV production companies are abusing the system. They employ technicians on a full-time basis, but declare only a small percentage of their hours worked, the rest being paid by unemployment benefits."
The organizers of the Avignon festival believe the cancellation has cost the city more than £15million, while the event's director Stephane Lissner blamed the politicians for letting the strikes get so far, declaring "both left and right have closed their eyes, everyone was complicit in a system whose abuses were well known."
Culture Minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon insisted the proposed benefit cuts will go ahead despite the protests. He said he was "torn between sadness and disgust," at the strikers' behaviour.
The industrial action has meant lost business for sound and lighting rental companies - Easycom Audio was hurt by the Avignon cancellation, having agreed to supply several large PA systems in return for brand promotion. "Though none of our major contracts have been hit by the strikes, we have lost out on a number of smaller andmedium-sized events which will affect our turnover considerably," reported Thierry Tranchant at Melpomem in Nantes. "Generally, our crews are not striking, but the problem is not going to disappear overnight. There could be problems in September when the theatres re-open after the summer break."
Dispatch managing director Eric Alvergnat added his comments: "The fund system is basically very good, but like any system, when it's abused you run into trouble. It's now down to the Ministries of Labour and Culture to sort it all out."
Until such a time, the situation for the rest of the summer remains much the same for towns across France.
Jim Evans
