In the late 1990s, a series of occupations, assemblies and protests occurred across France. Loosely described as ‘the movement of the unemployed’, the protests were in fact large-scale gatherings of intermittent workers, students, unemployed, part-time workers … in short: what are now called in some quarters ‘the precariat.’

There were many debates within those protests, but with the establishment of the Jussieu assemby, the movement developed a forum distinguishing itself from the trade unions, NGOs, the Socialist Government and various academics (derided as ‘experts’), opening up for a fleeting moment a debate over the meaning of work and life. As it happened, the pressure of those movements led to the development in France of legislation for the 35-hour week, job-sharing and so forth. See Stop the Clock for some of the resulting debates over this and the diffusion of similar demands for the 35-hour week across Europe.

Nevertheless, for a fleeting moment, there occurred in France the expression of something quite other than a call for everyone to fill their time with more work and the articulation of an openly combative relationship to ‘the experts’ who bemoaned the ‘exclusion’ of so many from the joys of work.

Here is one of the funnier, sharper circulars from the Jussieu assembly:

"We Know What You Need To Do Better Than You Do, Because We Are Specialists!"

"Ever since you elected us, we have thought of nothing but your happiness.

We are extremely concerned about the tragedy of unemployment. That’s why we have explored every possible solution to it. We want to spare you the torments of idleness (which as everyone knows is the devil’s workshop); to save you from the anxiety that people experience when they are allowed to decide what they’re going to do with their own lives.

After lengthy and costly calculations, our experts have discovered the solution capable of revitalizing the cycle of profits (which will, of course, be shared with everyone, as usual), namely the creation of a maximum number of jobs indispensable for human fulfillment, such as shoeshiner, door opener, supermarket bagger, or walker of the boss’s dog. We are confident that millions of unemployed people will be happy for this opportunity to play a useful role in society.

Certain disgruntled characters, always quick to criticize but never offering any constructive ideas on how to create a financially viable future for humanity, denounce this program (the only program capable of saving our civilization), contending that such jobs are useless and obnoxious. These criminal utopians want to put people above profits and thus deliver our country over to barbarism, as in the dark days of the French Revolution or the bloody outrages of the Paris Commune.

Well, we have learned the lessons of history. We have no intention of allowing our country — this wonderful country that assures well-being, freedom of expression, leisure activities and televised sports for all its citizens — to be handed over to drunken, uneducated proletarians. This is why, in our all-seeing wisdom and in order to ensure full employment and security for everyone, we have decided to offer jobs to hundreds of thousands of young people as auxiliary police, part-time watchmen, substitute ticket inspectors and apprentice informers.

Please continue to rely on us to think and act for you. Above all, do not go to the Jussieu assembly — that will accomplish nothing and will only hurt your own cause. And as you know, your cause is our cause. "

More articles from the Jussieu assembly here.