The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-03-21
FRANC STABILIZED
AT EXPENSE OF
FRENCH WORKERS
Revolutionary Unions
For Struggle

run into four figures.
Forced To Retreat.
The Government was soon forced
to retreat from its ridiculous pre-
tensions that the unemployment was
merely an invention Of malicious
tongues. Poincare was soon told that
he apparently had not taken the
trouble to read the official bulletin
of the Ministry of Labour.
However meagre and false may be
the official statistics they neyerthe-
less allow Of forming an idea as to
the rate Of the growth Of unemploy-
ment in the country.
In the middle of November, 1926,
there were only 469 unemployed in
receipt Of doles; by the 31st Of De-
cemher, there We're already 17,07S;
by the 10Th of January Of this year,
there were $4,000, and by the 22nd
Of January, 1922.
In August, 1925, the Labour Ex-
change had only 1880 applicants for
work on its books and 1880 places
vacant. Things are very different
now; between the 18th and 22nd of
January, 1927, the exchange had
$500 places vacant on its books and
36,S50 applicants for work.
Not All Voorhees, Registered.
The official figures of unemployed
in receipt of doles, 1922, bear but
little relationship to the actual state
of unemployment. AS a matter Of
fact the unemployed are regularly
registered only in 10 departments out
of go The Municipal Unemployed
Societies only function in 90 towns
in France, although France contains
about 10000 Communes. What is
going on in the remoter parts Of
France can only be guessed at from
the fragmentary information acct
dentally cropping up in the daily
press. Doubtless, the number of
completely unemployed already ex-
ceeded 10000 in the end of January,
1927. Besides these, there is an en-
ormous army of partially unem-
ployed i. e., unemployed only a few
days a week. The latter may at
present be counted not in hundreds Of
thousands, hut without any exagger-
alton in millions (there is no regis
tration of partial unemployment in
Francel.
Growing Unemployment.
The government and the CAPT
talists are apparently beginning to
understand that a very dangerous
situation may be brought about by
the growing unemployment. Fall
ieres. the Minister Of Labour, is en-
deavouring through his agents, the
labour inspectors, to get into the
heads Of the industrialists the un-
desirability Of discharging workers
when production is being cut down
and the necessity for dividing up I'M
employment among all the workers.
The working class has probably moth
ing to lose from this with regard to
its revolutionary cohesion. The task
of the Unitary Confederation in its
serious struggle with unemployment
will only be made easier. The G. c.
L. broadcasting the slogan of unem-
ployment carried on the tactics of
the united front for all workers, both
employed and unemployed. The
idea of calling a General Labour
Congress of factory representatives
and unemployed representatives is
becoming more popular every day.
Questions and slogans capable Of
holding the attention of the broad
masses arise spontaneously. The u.
G. G. L. has formulated the slogans
clearly and definitely; the hour
day, the struggle against the lower
ing of real wages, workers control
over the engagement and discharg-
ing Of workers in enterprises. State
aid for mployed-Freneh and
alien; immunity of unemployed from
taxation and payment of rent; or
ganisation of municipal work under
control of trade unions. These are
the principal demands, giving rise to
series of others associated with
them.
There Must Be Unity.
A severe and obstinate struggle is
impending. The working class will
have to make the fullest use Of it's
economic and political organs in this
struggle. All the hitherto dispersed
forces of the working class must be
drawn into the struggle and this can
only be done through the creation Of
united labour front.
The realisation Of the united front
for the struggle can and should be
made By true revival Of the unity
Of the trade union movement in
France, that unity which has been
until lately kept back by the right
elements in the trade union move
ment, the leaders Of the reformist
General Confederation Of Labour