In nearby Martinique, a 38-day general strike ended on March 14th with the signing of an agreement by the February 5 Collective (a coalition unions and other organizations) to increase wages and cut prices of 400 basic necessities.  Supporters chanted "Matinik leve" (Martinique stand up) as they celebrated the agreement and vowed to stay mobilized in case the agreement is not implemented.

In Reunion, an island in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar that is also controlled by France, thousands of protesters have also been calling for wage increases and a cut to the price of basic goods.

It seems that the massive mobilizations in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Reunion have not gotten much 
coverage, at least in the US press.  However, they are inspiring examples of how workers are responding not only to the impacts of the present global economic and food crisis, but to centuries of exploitation.  I think it is important for labor rights supporters in the US to stand in solidarity with workers in these countries as they fight to ensure that improvements are implemented on the ground and that union members are able to organize without harrassment or even violence.