9,000 workers at EssilorLuxottica stage strike for better pay

This month in labour history

1-11-1870 Proclamation of the Marseille Commune [more]

1-11-1919 Founding of Confédération française des travailleurs chrétiens - French Confederation of Christian Workers (CFTC). [more]

3-11-1948 To support the striking miners, the dockers of Lorient and Bordeaux refuse to unload the foreign coal but they are replaced by the military. [more]

6-11-1887 Eugène Pottier dies in Paris at the age of 71. Transport worker and socialist, he is the author of "The International" which begins with the lines: "Arise the damned of the Earth, Dispose of the convicts of hunger ..." [more]

7-11-1879 Benoît Broutchoux was born. He edited multiple syndicalist papers, and was sent to prison many times throughout his life for printing radical ideas and taking part in labour struggles. [more]

8-11-1948 Various demonstrations in Nord-Pas de Calais bring together 50,000 workers, despite the bans. [more]

9-11-1918 A Soviet, or Workers and Soldiers Council, was formed in Metz. In Moselle as in Alsace, this movement gains momentum following the example of the explosive situation in Luxembourg and the Saar. [more]

11-11-1940 40,000 miners from Nord Pas-de-Calais march in the streets against the decision to abolish the national day of tribute to the victims of 1914-1918. [more]

15-11-1995 Start of a series of huge strikes over the Juppé plan for cuts to Social Security and to pensions. [more]

20-11-1924 Women sardine cannery workers in Douarnenez begin a strike that has gone down in history as one of the earliest examples of women successfully mobilising to demand workplace rights. [more]

20-11-1918 A "soviet" is set up in the town of Petite-Rosselle (Alsace) and elects delegates from among the minors. [more]

21-11-1917 Strike by insurance employees in the Paris region demanding an end to the war. [more]

24-11-1968 De Gaulle proclaims "It is the end of processions and exhibitions". Immediately, the workers of Renault, of the Assistance publique, the steelworkers of Bordeaux, demonstrate for their demands. Wildcat strikes at Renault and Peugeot. [more]

24-11-1995 A general strike in France begins the three-week strike wave which will force Alain Juppe's government to drop its pension reform plans. [more]

27-11-1974 43 days postal workers strike wins the tenure of 6,000 casual workers, retirement at 55, improvement in compensation premiums and career development + a halt to the privatization of telecommunications. [more]

29-11-1948 The Great Miners' Strike ends, the workers return to the mines. [more]

30-11-1827 The Lyon Mutual Aid Society, founded by Jacques Lacombe, is authorized by the mayor. [more]