BITTER AFTERMATH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 45, 2 December 1938, Page 5

BITTER AFTERMATH

FRENCH STRIKERS DISMISSED.

FIGHT AGAINST POLICE CORDON.

PROVINCIAL WORKS GUARDED. STRAINED RELATIONS PREVAIL. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, U. 35 a.m.) PARIS, December 1. The aftermath of the strike is proving bitter for thousands who obeyed the union leaders. Many big employers throughout the country contend that the strike was a breach of the collective agreement, entailing dismissal and re-engagement under a new contract. The workers refuse to agree to this on the ground that they must lose the right to 12 days’ paid holiday and must begin afresh and acquire seniority. Lock-outs have been proclaimed in many works and factories. Until the situation is cleared up the strikers in some industries have been summarily dismissed. The result is a strained atmosphere in a number of large industrial towns, where the police and Mobile Guards are still guarding factories. At Grenobles, 2500 dismissed strikers fought a police cordon and did considerable damage to works.

J The Admiral in charge of the Lorient Arsenal ordered the dismissal of 3000 workers, who must apply for, reengagement-. . The at the naval arsenal at Brest, lost two days’ pay. Ten thousand -workers in the naval shipyards at St. Nazaire unexpectedly struck this afternoon owing to the authorities refusing to re-engage some of the men, allegedly agitators. ; . '

Roubaix workers, demonstrating against the new contract, agreed to -submit to arbitration by the Government..... Three thousand men, allegedly agitators or pickets, were dismissed in the Toulouse district.

A number of aeroplane metal works; at Marseilles have not reopened. Twelve hundred demonstrators marched against Haismes, stoning the guards, who used the butts of their rifles until reinforcements drove .off the attackers.

M. Johaux (secretary-general of the Trades ‘Union Executive) affirms that the Confederation will pursue its policy until the deerees against workers are withdrawn.

ACTION BY EMPLOYERS.

RETURNING MEN LOCKED OUT.

SEVERAL CLASHES OCCUR

(Received This Day, 8.55 a.m.) PARIS, December 1

The employers instituted sanctions against the strikers, locking out men who were desirous of resuming. The Arsenal, tramway factory employees and metal workers were dismissed and told to apply again. At Valenciennes, strikers attacked and injured several Belgians who were crossing the frontier. to resume work. At Lille; textile workers, after being refused permission to enter the works, stormed the factories, but were later evacuated by the police and Mobile Guards. ' , ■ . Several strikers ait Denain were in•red by guards, using their rifle butts.

CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT. ‘FRANCE STRONGER THAN EVER.’ /* ’ PARIS, Novemcr 30. The majority of the 495 who were arrested in Paris during the day were released at night after verification of identity. The Bourse was strong, and rentes and equities were marked up, and there was a heavy, influx of expatriated funds.

M. Daladier, in a broadcast to-night, claimed that by the failure of the strike the country had shown confidence in the ■ Government. “I said I would make the authority of the State respected,” said the Premier. “It has been respected.” The people knew that their liberties,, were not endangered, by the Government’s social laws. They knew that their liberties were endangered only by disorder and lack of discipline. Trade union liberty itself demanded restraint, The people had proved that democracy could prevent disorder. ” The world now knew that France, had triumphed over internal uncertainty and was stronger than before. M, Daladier concluded by stating that the Government’s vole would be conciliation and ' co-operation between employers and workers.