Times Activists Made Their Voices Heard in 2016

Protests Erupt in France Over Labor Law Changes

More than 400,000 people took to the streets in France to protest changes in labor laws in March of 2016. It was the largest and longest protest in the country since the French Revolution. Labor strikes at oil refineries and nuclear power plants caused massive oil shortages, which affected the public transport system and airports. The changes in labor laws make it easier for companies to increase working hours and lay offs.

Demonstrations were held across the country, with some turning violent, which was the case in Paris when 12 people were injured when protests clashed with police. Union leader Phillippe Martinez backed the protesters and encouraged them to continue “fighting tooth and nail to stop it cross the threshold” referring to keeping the unfair labor laws away from the companies they work for.