If all you want out of work is to provide means for your existence, that's fine. But unions are here to obtain some legal norms that make work more respectable.

The government has to admit, in light of yesterday's protest, that this reform cannot be implemented in its current form.

The government and employers have a few days to give tangible signs that they have heard the message. We are already poised to start planning a follow-up if the right response doesn't come.

We are not going to allow the right of companies to fire at the snap of a finger to become entrenched in French law. We are not going to allow France to operate under the same rules as the socially most backward countries.

If we manage to be extremely numerous on Saturday, then I think the government will be able to review its position.

All the unions have already agreed to assess the action today and consider more if we do not get the appropriate responses to the complaints voiced in the street.

We won't let the freedom of firing at whim install itself in French legislation.

His love of himself is getting the better of his political pragmatism.

We will not allow it to be written in French law that workers can be laid off at a click of the fingers.