Performers Threaten to Halt 650 French Festivals in Support of Unemployed

All France's 650 summer cultural festivals face cancellation because of a protest by performers, musicians, dancers, stage managers and technicians that is likely to halt next week's Avignon festival.

Yesterday, Avignon's artistic director, Bernard Faivre d'Arcier, who backed the demonstrators, described the protest as "a forest fire which no one knew how to put out" and forecast bankruptcies.

Theatres, films and television have also been hit by moves to bring the show business industry to a halt in a dispute over the reduction of unemployment pay for "resting" performing artists and technicians. This weekend, the Montpellier dance festival and the Tours jazz festival were among cancelled events while the opening of the summer's biggest opera gathering, at Aix-en-Provence, was postponed.

Paris's top theatres called off plays and ballets at the last minute while trade unions prepared for "a fight to the finish" over a decision to make it harder for freelance performers and temporary backstage staff known as " intermittents du spectacle", to claim benefits.

The CGT trade union's show business secretary-general, Jean Voirin, who represents 70% of all stage, film and TV staff, said a general strike was in preparation that would bring the industry to a full stop.

"This is a catastrophic agreement drawn up after a pretence at negotiations," he said. "At least 35% of our members will not qualify for unemployment allowances under the new conditions. The most vulnerable members are most at risk...their average indemnities are €15 [£10.50] a day. They will get nothing under the new accord."

The CGT, supported by a rival union, Force Ouvrière, believes it is in a strong position because summer festivals are a key part of many regional economies and create thousands of jobs.

At Montpellier, the director, Jean-Paul Montanari, said he expected the whole festival industry to collapse but blamed the centre-right government's lack of interest in culture.

The dispute arose after a decision to increase hours of work before qualifying for unemployment pay.

The culture minister, Jean-Jacques Aillagon, condemned the protest as "irresponsible" claiming that the agreement offered better guarantees for artists and backstage staff.