French workers are protesting against changes to workplace rules and deficit reduction plans. The president has said that he will abide by changes meant to shrink the government deficit, as well as change the budget. French companies have shed jobs, and some say that labor costs need to be brought down in order to spur growth in the economy. However, workers say that they are the ones who have been sacrificing, and business needs to change their practices.
See "Hollande Faces First Challenge From Base as Union Protests", Mark Deen, Business Week, October 9, 2012