The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1919-05-31
LABOR IN FRANCE
Gets 8-AoUR DAY
French Chamber Of Deputies
Passes Bill Fixing Week Of
48 Hours for Workers.

PARIS. France-On April II 1919
two great events took place which
mark new step forward in the eco
nomic and social advance Of France.
On the one hand, the chamber Of
deputies unanimously passed bill
fixing an eight-hour working-day for
employees Of either sex and of all
ages, that is to say week of As
hours, or its equivalent for some other
period of time than one week. This
limit is to be observed in Industrial
and commercial ablishments or
their dependencies, whatever their
nature.
On the other hand. by character
tslic coincidence. a convention has
been established between the Two
groups: on the one side are found the
representatives Of the union OF the
~ etal'ursical ana mining industries.
of mechanical, electrical and metallic
constructions and industries aDper-
tanning to the same; on the other the
Federation of the Metallurgical Work
men of France. This agreement the
first clause of which states that THE
representatives of the union declare
that they accept the application Of the
.eight-hour effective working-Gay in
the metallurgical Industries and III
those Of mechanical, naval. AMI cleo
trical construction is signed by the
following: For the union. the pres;-
dent. Charles Laurent. and Messrs de
Wendell, Richemond, Cordier, Laurent
and Fourier: for the federation, the
Secretaries Merrheim. Lenoir, Liable
Blanchard and Clause.
No Intermediates.
Both Of these facts are important
but the second is especially so. This
agreement has been arrived at by en-
p1oyers and employed without the in
tervention or collaboration of, any
member Of the government and also
without the presence of any politi-
clan! Nothing could perhaps be more
encouraging for the future than the
possibility Of thus solving all ques-
lions of labor and production all the
burning social questions OF the hour
by bringing WorlSmen and their en-
ployers face to face without any inter-
mediaries.
-, The following is summary of the
clauses adopted after the interviews
which took place on April 5, 10 and
1e, between the representatives of the
union Of the Meta llurgical and mining
Industries on the one side and the
Federation of Metallurgical Workmen
In France OH the other.
/. The rule of the eight hour day
Is accepted by the employers.
the Workmen promise to adapt
themselves uniformly to the develop
ment of the mechanism and rational
methods of work so that the produc-
ton will rapidly find the balance
which is indespensab to the general
welfare.
5. The federation accepts piece
work either with a premium or with
approximations. on the condition tina
certain reliable guarantees Of a tech
nical order accompany it,
a. The reduction of the hours oil
work shall not ause any diminution
OF salaries
>. Foreign labor, where employed
will receive equal advantages for al
equal professional value
+. The new regulation shall come
into force from June 1, 1919, except
Ing in establishments where continual
furnaces have to be maintained anG
reform to be applied only after a lapse
OF six months after the siging of tho
agreement. so as TO give the necessar.
time for studying in common how this
is to be effected
I. Employers and workmen shall
also come to an agreement according
TO professions and industrial cate
gories so as to substitute. in certain
cases, equivalent limits for the limit Of
daily work covering a durato Of time
to be determined
5. Finally, an analogous agree
ment shall establish the necessar,
m modification especially for certain in
dustries where the furnaces are KEEP
burning continually-cither perma
nently or emporarily-in special
A dollar does not look any bigge.