Welcome to mjventertainment.blogspot.com:... France Tweeter France Labour Protests Government, unions fail to agree at Labour reform talks By RFI Issued on 17-06-2016 Modified 17-06-2016 to 11:16 media French CGT trade union general secretary Philippe Martinez (C) attends a demonstration against French labour law reforms in Paris, France, May 17, 2016. ©REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes The French Labour minister, Myriam El Khomri, and the head of the hardline union Confédération Générale de Travail (CGT) failed to agreed on the proposed Labour law reforms at a meeting Friday morning. For her part, El Khomri said that while the meeting had been “constructive” there were still disagreements, in particular in respect of enterprise agreements and the way they are drawn up. There were also disagreements over redundancies and how they are managed, and the role of the enterprise doctor has in the organization. While El Khomri said that the talks allow for further discussions, the government did not, and will not, roll-back on the key elements of the proposed reforms. France has also been hit by months of strikes that have led to long queues for fuel, rubbish piling up on sidewalks, and train and plane delays. But even before the talks get under way, both sides appeared unyielding. Entrenched positions Martinez has previously demanded that the government suspend debate on the labour law, which is currently before the upper house Senate after the government forced it through the lower house without a vote -- further enraging the union. President Francois Hollande's Socialist government is trying to push through the labour market reforms in a bid to tackle France's 10 percent unemployment rate. More protests However critics see the reforms as skewed towards business interests, and argue that greater flexibility for employers will erode their iron-clad job security. The government has already watered down the reforms, to the satisfaction of reform-minded unions, while more radical leftist unions have dug their heels in. Prime Minister Manuel Valls has vowed to stand firm on the labour reforms. "The government will not change a text which is already the outcome of a compromise sealed several months ago with reform-minded unions," Valls told French radio on Wednesday. He also accused the CGT of having an "ambiguous attitude" to those who carried out violent acts during Tuesday's protest. Paris police chief Michel Cadot said that despite the presence of some 1,500 paramilitary officers and 1,000 police, some 20 shops, 13 signboards, the facades of eight banks, eight bus stops and a dozen public buildings -- including a children's hospital -- were damaged in the protest. Police unions contested Cadot's figures of 28 police wounded, saying they had reports that between 100 and 200 officers had been injured. Hollande has threatened to ban demonstrations, which have come as the country's overstretched security forces are juggling the demands of the Euro football championship and heightened terror fears. The CGT has already planned more protests for June 23 and 28. Tweeter Related French president could ban further … French unions face decisive test in … French PM defiant over labour reforms … French unions, government to discuss … French president could ban further … French unions face decisive test in …