STRIKE FEVER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 12886, 12 June 1936, Page 2

STRIKE FEVER

FIRM HOLD IN FRANCE. MANY NEW UPHEAVALS. HUMOROUS INCIDENTS. TRADES UNIONS POWERLESS. . EMPLOYERS REPUDIATE INCREASE. (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyright). PARIS, June 10. Seventy thousand textile workers in tho Iloubaix and Tdurcoing- districts are resuming to-morrow with a 10 per cent, increase in pay. Other demands will be discussed when the measures proposed by the Prime Minister, M. Leon Blum, are passed. , Tho northern mines are returning, but tho drift to -work is not yet general. Thoso idle, according to some estimates, still number 1)00,000, including new strikers coming out owing to tho trades unions being powerless.

The latest si ay-in -strikers are-the employees of fashionable costumiers. Mannequins and midinettes are sitting in the shop windows, chaffing tho passers-by. Three thousand five hundred agriculturalists of tho Seine and Oise districts struck.

Stone masons, market gardeners, florists, lacing stablo boys, and Parisian charwomen arc also refusing work.

Ono thousand and fifty strikers occupied tho Schneider munition works at Lo Havre, anil the strikers arc still not evacuated in the Citroen, Renault and Gourtaukl works.

Tho Blue Tiain rail again to-dav, but tho employees on the French line struck after the sailing of tho Normandie at 11 a.m., occupying the warehouses.

Many of liio employers repudiate tho wago incieases, declaring that tho concessions total ,‘ls per cent, when tho 40-hcur week and the paid holidays are considered.

The Parisian police are prosecuting shopkeepers for profiteering to the extent of 50 to 100 per cent, when tho food supply was menaced. Already 250 summonses have been issued.

Lifeljoalmen on tho Seine are striking and have i,rented placards forbidding people in jump into the water, adding humorously that while tho striko lasts, only mothers-in-law will Lo saved.

GOV ER N 51E N T ELATI () N EVAPORATING. STRIKE TAKING UGLY TURN ORGANISED STREET DEMONSTRATIONS. (U.P.A. by Eloc. Tel. Copyright). (Received June 11. 5.5 p.m.). LONDON, June 10. ThU I Lines’ Runs correspondent says that the elation m Government and Labour circles at the soil lenient hi principle, is evaporating. '! hero is even reubwed alarm in some quarters, not only because the strikers refuse to resume despite the generous t.-wns, hut the strike, hitherto a mode! ul discipline and good humour, is taking an uglier turn. M. Daladicr announced the arrast of a number of armed agerit provocateur's, w U- the are organising street demonstrations in Paris anil c.sewnc:*:?. A ■procession to-day obstructed the traffic. There is a daugar of such demonstrations becoming in manageable, especially as M. Blum declared that the Government would not use force against tile strikers, which statement is regarded as a blunder even by friendly critics. There is also tlie possibility of counter demonstrations by th'e Croix de Feu. and less peaceful bodies.

The FrencJi Line lightning strike has ended, the company acceding to the majority of the dunands. WORKERS ON .FORTS DOWN TOOLS. . GJ.P.A. by Elec. TeT. Copyright). (Received June 12, 1 a.in.) PARIS, Juno 11. Whilst strike settlements continue, tens of thousands of Avorkers and nonunionists are Avithout any clear plan of action. Thousands of Parisians went without breakfast owing to the strike of waiters and butchers. Rouen is paralysed oAving to tbe occupation of part by striking dockers. AVorkmen engaged on the const ruction of the Eastern-fortifications doAvned tools. The strike movement is spreading to Marseilles which is without taxis or newspapers. Tile continuance of the strikes Avas most unexpected and in some quarters it is suggested that many workers feel that they must take advantage of the situation before it is overlate.