Thousands join French strike action

Press, 28 October 1982, Page 9

Thousands join French strike action

NZPA-Reuter Paris Thousands of civil servants and dockers stopped work yesterday in the latest in a series of strikes over pay limits that have pitted France's big Left-wing unions against the Socialist Government.

. Public employees belonging to the Socialist-oriented C.F.D.T. labour confederation and dock workers in the Communist C.G.T. grouping, stopped work for 24 hours. Officials reported slight disruption to work in ministries. town halls, and telephone and other public services. The C.F.D.T. is one of several unions represented in the big civil service. Cargo-handling in France's large channel, Atlantic and Mediterranean ports, where the C.G.T. is the main union, slowed as the 24-hour strike took effect.

The stoppages, which will be followed by a Paris public transport strike and action by railway workers, are aimed at showing union anger over a Government decision to limit pay increases for 14 months beyond the end of a four-month wage and price freeze next Monday. Arguing that stern measures are needed to brake France's high inflation rate, the Prime Minister. Mr Pierre Mauroy, and his Government have’set a ceiling of 10 per cent for wage rises this year and 8 per cent next year.

The figures represent the official target for price rises for the same period. Inflation was running at 14 per cent before the Government switched from a high-spend-ing policy to its austerity strategy last June. Large and small businesses complain that the price measures will erode already meagre profits and cramp new investment.

Unions and employers in the public and private sector are now opening intensive negotiations to set wage increases up to the end of 1983.