Evening star., 1936-06-08

W EIUHCS W. Tue OUcI UILStULIILH DLC-
tory OF the Peoples Front party in
the face OF serious national financial
troubles, Immediately UGS con-
tronted by a ndtion-wide strike OF
tporkers
The new premier Immediately
set to ,Uork to end the folded
arms" walkout Dhich threatened a
food shortage in Paris. Although
only in potDer four days, Blum
effected settlement, but still must
iron out the financial iDrinkles.
Ry the Assoc sted Press.
PARIS, June Coal miners in
Northern France, numbering 10000.
called q general strike today a few
hours after 100000 other workers
had won complete victory in the
folded arms" refusal to work.
Workers In Paris building trades also
began a walkout to enforce the FIVE
point agreement which ended the IA
day strike after Premier Leon Blum's
new deal" government interceded for
organized labor.
The coal miners, who declared they
would rather strike and starve than
work and starve," occupied pits and
Offices in the northern fields. In some
places mining officials were held pris-
oner in their buildings, but leaders Of
the miners union quickly ordered
their release.
Franc Is Strengthened.
The governments declaration against
devaluation brought new strength to
the franc at the opening Of the market.
The labor agreement which brought
some workers back to their jobs was
described as ''one Of the great prole-
tartan victories in the French history"
Labor Wins Five Demands.
Labor won five demands:
/. Wage increases from to Is per
cent.
O. Recognition Of workers right to
organize in unions.
3. Collective bargaining contracts.
4. A 4o-hour work week
S. Annual vacations with pay.
Under pressure from the Peoples
Front government which inherited the
strike from the outgoing Sarraut re-
gime, the employers signed the agree
ment. but warned they made all re-
serves regarding economic conse-
quences."
The only group excluded from the
general agreement were white collar"
workers. minority-but Blum called
an arbitration conference under the
sponsorship Of the government to end
their difficulties today.
The accord makes resumption of
work contingent upon negotiation of
contracts in each establishment. Labor
circles expected disputes with indi-
vidual employers to continue, but
looked for the greater part of the army
Of strikers back at work Tuesday or
Wednesday.
Among the first employees to return
to their jobs were oil company workers,
whose strike had paralyZed traffic in
Paris by gasoline shortage.
Bank Clerks Stay on Job.
A walkout of bank clerks was avert
ed by the labor settlement, and the
institutions remained open. Depart
ment stores. whose doors had been
blocked by pickets, were still unable
to make sales, as their employees are
not members of the General Confed-
Grafton of Labor A separate agree
ment was expected before long, how
ever.
Roger Salengro, minister Of the in
terror. announced the accord which
broke the backbone Of the strike. 1t
was not accomplished. he said, until
after decisive Intervention by the gov-
ernment."
Strikers will receive no punishment
| for their actions, he said, and wage
increases will be made effective as soon
as work is resumed. BY mutual agree
ment. the open shop" principle was
retained.
The end Of the strike signaled the
first victory of the new Socialist gov
ernment, which took over extraordi-
nary powers in the first hours of its
tenure. Blum and his ministers con-
tinued to work on new measures to
bolster the sagging financial situation
and revitalize national defenses.
Leftist newspapers celebrated the
strikes end, but Rightist publications
counter with misgivings the country
would be unable to stand the strain
Of higher wages and shorter hours.
The opposition broadcast curt warn
ings sharp rises in prices were in
evitable
The coal miners walked out to end
struggle to support their families on
what they said were wages of 594
francs approximately $42 a month.
Of1cialS Of the Federation of Un-
derground Workers charged the coal
fields in the Douai region of the north
were not being worked, leaving thou
sands of miners idle while the French
owners gave work to German miners
in the Saar fields
Operators retorted there was only
q limited and rapidly diminishing
market for French coal. Work, the
operators asserted, has been equally
distributed when available.
The miners called the general strike
'to be continued until the owners
cut into their profits to give us living
wages"
Thunderous roars Of approval of the
governments labor policy greeted Blum
when he appeared at the Paris sports
stadium to offer his ministerial
declar ration to the neo,le of paris"