STRIKERS RETURNING TO WORK

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 13

STRIKERS RETURNING TO WORK

WAGE INCREASE OF 35 PER CENT. ■ ' 'employers not enthusiastic PARIS, June 9. The strikers are now streaming back work. The trade unions describe the settlement as the greatest victory in the history of French Labour. They consider that the income of the • workers, allowing for the 40-hour week, will rise, on the average, by 35 per cent. The employers, howeyer, do not share the enthusiasm, as they contend that the increases will place a heavy burden on French economy. The problem now facing the Prime Minister (M. Leon Blum) is to reconcile his opposition to devaluation with the rising costs of, production which the settlement of the strike will necessitate. Right interests, formerly bitter opponents of devaluation, are now becoming the strongest advocates of it. Even the Popular Front is becoming uneasy at M, Blum’s insistence on the sanctity of the franc. Critics point out that if he rejects devaluation he must resort to tariffs, quotas, and exchange regulations, turning* France into a very totalitarian state, which M. Blum was elected to combat. M. Blum is at present relying on short term borrowing, which has reached the unprecedented total of £280,000,000. Presumably hfe intends to continue borrowing until the market will lend no longer. Boulougne shop girls desire tne abolition of the order that they must appear for work attractively made up, declaring that they are workers, i not actresses. j M. Blum, in the Chamber of Deputies, tabled bills providing for a {4O-hour week, holidays of 15 days with pay, collective contracts, the exemption of war veterans from taxation, and alterations to certain decrees and laws. He asked the | Chamber to adopt the bills owing to i the extreme urgency. The Cham|ber, by a large majority, approved jof the bills and adjourned after rei ferring the measures to commissions. | The bill for collective ' contracts gives authority and power to arbitrate in case of differences between the parties respecting the national agreement, and it extends the agreement to parties which were not represented at the negotiations on June 7. The textile interests told M. Blum that they would accept the agreement, but they drew the attention of the Government to the necessity for a reduction in the export tax in order to enable them to defend the markets.