The Sous les écrans la dèche (Broke Behind the Screens) collective representing freelance workers associated with the Cannes Film Festival are calling for a strike. Why? It is because, the collective has been trying to draw attention to the fact that freelance festival workers are at a loss because of the short-term nature of their contracts and the fact that they are not eligible for unemployment benefits.
Yes, the French labour reforms do not consider many festival workers for the unemployment insurance programme. Some of the workers are facing a lot of instability and uncertainty as they are not eligible for joblessness benefits in between assignments/projects/jobs. Their condition becomes quite pathetic once the Cannes Film Festival is over and their short-term contracts come to an end. The latest rule reforms that come into effect on 1 July will make life tougher for them.
While the Cannes Festival, France’s Culture Ministry, the French Film Board as well as the French National Centre of Cinema (CNC) have acknowledge the concerns raised by the workers, they have not offered any solution or steps to help them.
To highlight their plight, the French collective has called for a general strike. It is hoped that the authorities will realise that the prestigious festival itself will be threatened if these workers decide to go on strike.
The 12-day Cannes festival is scheduled to commence on 14 May and end on 25 May.
