49,000 MEN TO COPE WITH FRENCH STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 282, 29 November 1938, Page 9

49,000 MEN TO COPE WITH FRENCH STRIKE.

DAY'S STOPPAGE. Trial of Strength Between Workers and State. 40-HOUR WEEK WITHDRAWAL. United Presß Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) PARIS, November 28. It is now regarded as cei'tain that a 24-hour strike will begin to-morrow at midnight. The General Confederation of Labour at a meeting to-night reaffirmed the decision and examined details for enforcement of it. Members of the executive stated that reports of a compromise under which the strike would be called off if Parlia- | ment was summoned immediately, are without foundation. The main trial of strength, between the confederation and the Government, will unquestionably occur in Paris where •the decisive psychological factor will be the Government's ability or inability to maintain transport services. The Govern- , ment has at present 49,000 men avail- j able in and around the city for maintenance of order, consisting of 12,000 Mobile Guards, 17,000 uniformed and 2000 plain-clothes police, 3000 Republican Guards and 15,000 troops. Requisition Transport. M. Daladier partly countered the railwaymen's decision to run no trains between 4 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday by requisitioning the underground railways. According to present indications the train eervices will be partly or fully maintained. National and underground railways, end similarly motor bus services and postal services', will remain normal, including longdistance telephonyt Broadcasting will be carried on. Banks, insurance offices, stores and small shope will remain open, also cinemas, theatres and other places of amusement, the artiste' union having decided against a strike. Hotels, cafes and restaurnats will not be affected. Leaders of Paris newspaper workers decided against a strike, on the ground that the non-appearance of newspapers would "constitute an infringement of the liberty of the Press," but the compositors unexpectedly voted to cease work this evening, which, if effective, will result in no papers to-morrow morning. Maintain Utilities. The Confederation of Trade Unions itself arranged for the maintenance of gas, water and electricity services. The Government by telegraph warned provincial, Government and municipal employees against striking under penalty of dismissal. The confederation, in a letter to M. Daladier conveying its decision to carry out the strike, says it is not revolutionary, political, or against the Government's foreign policy, and denies that workers are under foreign influence. It declares the etrike is due to suppression of the 40-hour week without a discussion, and concludes: "If disorders occur, they will not originate on our side. Work will be resumed on December 1, and your illegal mobilisation cannot make any difference." Unions Against Strike. Though the confederation claims 5,000,000 members, there are numerous independent unions opposing the strike, for instance, the Confederation of Christian Workers, numbering 500,000, and the French Labour Confederation, 120,000. Work has resumed in several big aircraft factories, which are a month behind the output schedule, but the men declare they will come out to-morrow for a day. Five thousand in the shipyards at Dunkirk struck in sympathy with eteel workers, resulting "in work on five warships being held up. Over 20,000 metal workers in the Valenciennes district are still idle. Most of the 30,000 workers in the Renault factory in Paris, which is engaged on military work, were dismissed and told they muet reapply for employment.