Evening star., 1947-05-09

work stayed away from their jobs
Monday and Tuesday. They at
tributed the collapse Of the demon-
stration to failure Of industrial
workers In other sections Of the
country to back it up with sympathy
walkouts.
1900 Declared Idle.
The civil government declared,
however, that the strike reached
its peak Wednesday and placed the
number idle on that day at 11.000.
I'm Madrid, underground
Basque sources distributed a
manifesto signed by Socialist,
Anarcho-Syndicalist and Basque
Nationalist labor organizations
urging the Bilbao strikers to con-
tinue without vacillation." The
manifesto warned against "some
leaflets signed by the national
committee Of the Basque COM
munist Party which we suspect
are issued by elements in
terested In confusing us.")
The Bilbao workers first left their
jobs on May Day for q one day
demonstration in observance OF the
traditional European labor day. The
government retaliated with an order
firing those who demonstrated and
requiring them to apply to Gov
Ganaro Riestra for reinstatement
within eight days, with loss Of
seniority rights.
In protest against this order the
workers struck in force last Monday
Except for publication of anti
strike degree in the Bilbao news
papers, the walkout has not been
mentioned in the controlled Spanish
press.
The organization of the demon
stration and strike was attributed
generally here to Basque National
lists.
(The Basque government in
exile in Paris estimated the num-
sber of strikers at $4,000 and
charged last night that Spanish
police had arrested 5000 of them.
It said Spanish prisons were SO
full that Gen. Frances men were
using a bull ring as q jailo
Informed sources here estimated
400 persons were under arrest ir
this area as result of the strike
The civil government placed the
number at $50.
Reliable estimates said about TO-
900 workers stayed home for May
Day. Workers generally resent the
Franco governments ban against
observing the day and consequently
most of them supported the May
Day work stoppages, regardless Of
the ideologies involves.
Workers Leaders Astonished.
Authoritative informants said the
May Day strike astonished even the
workers leaders and caught the
government entirely by surprise.
The loss of seniority suffered by
the workers returning to their jobs
is an especially severe penalty
since 1t means not only wage cut
but loss OF prospects for future pay
increases. Under Spanish syndical
law workers receive automatic
raises every five years.
Thus, with loss Of seniority, they
return as new employees at the base
rate, losing their previously gained
raises and also the time built up
for future increases.
Competent informants estimated
that most heavy industry was
closed, or practically so, during the
walkout. Among the plants closed
they listed Babcock & Wilcox, with
5000 workers; Constructors Naval
Shipbuilders and Euskalbuna, with
l 500 to 1000 workers each. They
said so per cent Of the 1000 workers
at Altos Hornos, one Of the largest
steel plants, were absent.
Few Bakers Walk Ont.
The strike also extended to small
industries and shops. One source
said bakers scheduled a walkoui
Sunday night, but only small per-
centage Of them stayed home. Police
rounded those few up and escorted
them to their bakeries. The city.
bread supply was little late Mon
day morning.
In one small shop, this sourc.
said, the entire force ignored the
May Day demonstration and worked