IMPROVEMENT IN FRANCE

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27125, 22 August 1953, Page 7

IMPROVEMENT IN FRANCE

Postal Workers To Return

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 10 p.m.) PARIS, August 21. Tfie French Government early today reached. general agreement with representatives of some non-Communist strikers, and a “back to work” order has been given postal workers by the Socialist and Catholic unions. A spokesman for the Socialist Force Ouvriere said details still had to be worked out for some branches of industry such as gas and electricity. The agreement was reached at semiofficial talks between the Socialist Force Ouvriere -and the Catholic Christian Workers’ Union on the one hand, and the Government on the other, with deputies of the Popular Republican Party acting as mediators. The postal workers were the first to strike in France 17 days ago against the new Government economy measures. Their stoppage touched off a wave of strikes affecting all main branches of French industry. The Prime Minister, Mr Joseph Laniel, later issued a statement saying he told the mediators that the Government intended to consult the trade unions concerned before applying the economy decrees which touched off the strikes nearly three weeks ago. Mr Laniel said the Government would attack the problem of unemployment and low wages as soon as it had issued its second set of economy decrees.

The terms of the agreement were not made public. The spokesman for the Socialist Force Ouvriere said details still had to be worked out for some branches of industry, such as gas and electricity and public health.

Until these details were worked out the stoppage in these industries would continue.

In other industries there was no sign of agreement, and the strikes are continuing.