Strikes spark backlash

Press, 13 January 1987, Page 8

Strikes spark backlash

NZPA-Reuter Paris Right-wing political parties called for demonstrations today to protest against strikes by State servants that have partly paralysed France for 26 days. Union militants have challenged Government curbs on wage rises with a series of industrial walk-outs, headed by a drawn-out strike by the national rail network. The Prime Minister, Jacques Chirac’s R.P.R.U.D.F. ruling coalition parties and the extremeRight National Front announced separate rallies In Paris, with the National Front leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, set to scold Mr Chirac for what he told French radio yesterday was Government laxity in handling the strikes. Stoppages by train and electrical workers ■ appeared to be losing their strength yesterday but a Paris mass transport strike threatened more .travel chaos on buses and the Metro underground railway.

The State-owned ' S.N.C.F. railway system said service on its mainline trains was 70 per cent of normal yesterday, and it predicted further improvement today, saying that nearly three-quarters

of the train drivers had returned to work. But with -10 temperatures predicted for much of France today, Paris commuters face long, shivery waits at bus stops or on underground platforms.

The cold wave prompted assurances by the communist-led C.G.T. union, which has refused to halt its strike against the State-owned electrical and gas utility, E.D.F.G.D.F., that consumers would not be plagued with power or gas cuts. Random electrical black-outs last week angered consumers and small businessmen and sparked spontaneous consumer take-overs of electrical offices, as well as protest marches. The former Socialist Prime Minister, Laurent Fabius, yesterday blamed the social unrest on Mr Chirac’s Government, saying “when one sows injustice, one harvests social agitation.” Mr Fabius said Mr Chirac had eliminated an important avenue for dialogue because, unlike all other Prime Ministers during the 19 years of France’s Fifth Republic, he had had no official meetings with union leaders during his nearly 10 months in office.