Disappointed after meeting, French unions call for 5 November action

This month in labour history

4-10-1941 Promulgation of the law on the Social Organization of Professions, known as the "Labour Charter" by the Vichy regime. It prohibits strikes and lays down the principle of single and compulsory unions. [more]

4-10-1948 Beginning of the general strike in the mines which did not end until 29 Nov. Socialist Minister Jules Moch had the Lorraine coal mines occupied on the night of 3-4 Oct. The police hunt for strikers begins. [more]

6-10-1869 Work stoppage at the Crol mine in Aubin. The day shift incites a strike marching through the night with those of Montet, women and children in the lead. The army fires anyway. 17 dead (2 women, 1 child 7 years old) 22 injured, 27 arrested, 26 imprisoned. [more]

7-10-1899 Victory parade in the streets of Creusot when an arbitration award favorable to the cause of strikers and freedom of association, is rendered. [more]

7-10-1948 Three days after the start of the general miners' strike, a striker, Jansek, from Merlebach was assassinated by the CRS. 25,000 people march in his funeral procession. [more]

9-10-1988 Wage strike by Eiffel Tower workers. [more]

13-10-1903 35,000 textile workers stop work in Armentières and Houplines to put an end to 14 years of a wage freeze. It will take 46 days to reach an agreement with the bosses defended by the dragoons on horseback. [more]

13-10-1942 3,000 railway workers gather at 11 am in the central SNCF workshops in Oullins, against the requisition of 30 of their comrades, designated to work in Germany. The strike spreads throughout the southern zone, not yet occupied by the Germans. [more]

17-10-1860 Worker Henri Tolain calls for a workers' delegation to be sent to the International Exhibition in London. [more]

19-10-1946 New civil service statute. The right to strike will only be recognized in 1950. [more]

20-10-1948 20,000 mineworkers demonstrate in Béthune and obtain the release of 8 prisoners including Doctor Versquel. [more]

21-10-1948 Three mineworkers are shot dead by troops during a confrontation in Firminy in the first month of the Great Mines strike. [more]

22-10-1935 Creation of the Workers' University of Montreuil. Of communist origin, it was the place of resolutely popular collective education. [more]

22-10-1903 Jean Jaurès, then Deputy for Tarn, met 3,000 strikers from the textile factories of Armentières and 6,000 in Houplines and agreed to plead their cause in the National Assembly. [more]

24-10-1920 24-hour strike by Le Havre sailors against the conviction of the Black Sea mutineers. [more]

26-10-1849 Police forces seize three mines in Alès during a strike that began on October 1. The operation resulted in the death of a miner and 400 arrests. The strike ended on November 29, after two deaths. [more]

26-10-1948 The police invade the Gard basin. The mason Max Chaptal, who was demonstrating with the miners, is killed by a machine-gun bullet fired by a tank. There are also 8 seriously injured. [more]

27-10-1948 Dockworkers block the flow of foreign coal into ports. The CGT calls on all sailors and railway workers to follow. [more]

28-10-1948 The Federation of railway workers-CGT calls on workers to block the trains carrying foreign coal. [more]