Fishermen lift blockade

Press, 1 September 1980, Page 6

Fishermen lift blockade

NZPA-Reuter Paris Striking French fishermen yesterday lifted blockades in several harbours as trade unionists met in ports to chart future action in their dispute with the Government and shipowners over fuel subsidies and planned crew cuts.

Trawlers at entrances to the Channel port of Boulogne lifted their blockade after a heated meeting at

which numerous union delegates said a backlash against the fishermen was growing in strength. At Boulogne, where the fishing dispute began nearly three weeks ago, tension has grown over the last few days as lorry drivers blocked the city’s main streets in protest against the fishermen’s action.

The lorry drivers, whose activities are mainly linked

to the port, reacted to the fishermen’s decision yesterday by lifting their own blockade soon afterwards.

The port of Bastia in northern Corsica was also cleared after union representatives met there. The police cut a cable blocking the entrance to the small Atlantic fishing port of Les Sablesd’Olonne, but the harbours of Lorient and Concameau remained closed.

The Government made several proposals last week aimed at unblocking the situation, but they have been re-

jected by both shipowners and representatives of the country’s 25,000 fishermen. With most ports now open, few new initiatives were expected by the fishermen until the Government mediation commission handling the dispute met again tomorrow.