FRENCH STRIKE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 8 June 1936, Page 5

FRENCH STRIKE

MILLION MEN IDLE TROUBLE SPREADING. *?Toss Association Electric Telefirauli Cop' r rifihi PARIS, Saturday. While M. Blum was announcing his “New Deal, ,, the strike epidemic was still spreading to additional industries, and although 107 strikes have been settled, it ■is ,estimated that 1,000,000 workers are idle. The most serious development today was the decision of the miners at Nord Pas de Calais to strike on Monday. Railwaymen in the Lens district struck, rendering idle thousands of miners and steel workers. Canals are affected and traffic is at a standstill, with barges moored in the fairway. Employees of a wagon-lits company came out, depriving railways of restaurant cars and sleeping cars. Locksmiths, earpetmakers, upholsterers, tanners, t cement makers, wine bottlers and print-' ers have:‘struck in numerous towns. In addition, textile workers have struck at Roubaix, Lille, and surrounding towns. The .movement spread to Paris, where 20,000 clothiers at cheap garment factories came out, but fashionable firms are not affected. Drivers of flour lorries struck at Paris, reviving fears of a food shortage and causing a rush on the scantily-stocked shops. Gas workers at Versailles ceased work, leaving the town practically without light. Parisians are having difficulty in finding amusements at the week-end. A shortage of petrol is preventing motoring. Theatres and cinemas are open, but are threatened with strikes. Many sporting fixtures have been cancelled. Strikers attacked the offices of the Paris paper “Tm Soir,” and destroyed formes of .type. They tore up editions of “L’lntransigeant,” and burned papers in the street. M. Jouliaux, secretary of the Confederation of Labour, informed M. Salengro, Minister of the Interior, that organised labour would resume on Monday. It is uncertain, however, whether non-unionists will follorv the lead. Three thousand market workers at Paris are returning after obtaining all their demands. Marseilles dockers, unloading the French vessel Capcore, struck and occupied both the ship and warehouses. MANY NEW DISPUTES. (Received Monday, 8.55 a.m.) PARIS, Sunday. The Sunday newspapers published the result of a midnight agreement with the news agents, who opened their kiosks, but lack of transport restricted the supplies. Many strikes were settled late last night, but these settlements have been counterbalanced by new disputes. The situation has become worse at Lille, even hotels and restaurants being closed to-day, owing to the waiters striking. EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS. A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD. (Received Monday, 9.25 a.m.) PARIS, Sunday. M. Blum this morning received a deputation of employers, and, as a result, a conference between the workers and employers is being held later in the day, embracing the industries affected by the strike. Petrol distributing stations will open to-morrow, and in the meantime, water, gas, electricity, buses and underground railways, are functioning. Milk is being delivered, and the markets are open. The builders decided to strike tomorrow. ' AGREEMENT REACHED. (Received Monday, 10.45 a.m.) PARIS, Sunday. M. Blum presided at the conference of the employers and workers ’ unions at which it was agreed that the employers recognise the unions and accept the principle of increased wages and recognise the workers ’ delegates. In the meantime thousands of strikers spent a dismal Sunday in unheated factories and stores singing, chatting and playing cards. Self-interned strikers scrupulously respected their employers ’ property. M. Salengro, Minister of the Interior, declares that the situation is easier and extends the hopes of an early setAll newspapers are publishing tonight. The petrol strike has ended; nevertheless for the first time in history the famous Blue Train did not run oufing to an extension of the strike to the sleeping car company’s employees and restaurant car attendants.