Everybody Loves a Parade - February Edition

As we mentioned before, Strasbourg seems to get more than its share of protest marches. On February 14 we had another one. Somewhere around 40,000 union workers from across Europe came to demonstrate to get the attention of the European Parliament. Seems the EU was debating a proposed law that would remove restrictions on wages paid to foreign workers. Essentially, this would allow workers from the new EU countries (Eastern Europe) to work in France for a foreign company and receive wages of their home country, not France. Or something like that. The proposed law is called the Bolkenstein ammendment. And none of the Trade Unions in Europe like it at all.

As luck would have it, they paraded in front of our apartment on the way back from Parliament. Theresa stood out there for two hours and got some very good pictures. The Trade Unions were a diverse and very colorful manifestation. And very well-behaved too. No tear gas at all.

Here are some local folks.

And here are some visitors from Ireland.

Did you ever wonder what happened to Poland's Solidarity union??? I'm not real sure where this guy is from. But I like the picture.