FRENCH STRIKES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30079, 13 March 1963, Page 15

FRENCH STRIKES

Railwaymen Ciit Shifts (NZ_PA.-Reuter—C'opync PARIS, March 12. Commuters from the suburbs to Paris and travellers throughout France were delayed by a two-hour railwaymens strike early today. The railwaymen are striking for two hours at the start of each of the day’s three shifts in support of their claims for higher pay and better pension conditions Traffic at G*are du Nord in Paris was totally interrupted, and it was seriously upset at the capital’s other stations. The strike of France's 240.000 coal miners entered its twelfth day with no sign of compromise from either the Government or the unions The miners want an 11 per cent, pay increase, shorter hours and improved pension conditions. Police exchanged blows and insults with striking coal miners yesterday in the first physical clash of the stoppage. At the same time 1000 iron ore miners from Lorraine, in eastern France threatened to march on Paris on Wednesday About 20.000 iron miners in the Lorraine are on unlimited strike in support of the pay claim. The clash between police and coal-miners came at Merlebach. in the great Ukraine coalfield, when pickets halted coaches carrying colliery administrative staff at a level crossing and local police intervened to keep traffic moving.

Berlin Government.—West Berlin’s new coalition City Government, headed by the governing Mayor, Mr Wiliv Brandt, was installed today by vote of the City Parliament—Berlin. March 11. Sheetings tn bw—Twentyfour Iraqi servicemen were shot and one civilian hanged today for resisting last month’s revolution, Bagdad Radio announced. Beirut, March 11.