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2/11/1949 - Lyon, France - Labor Organizations: C.G.T., F.O., and C.F.T.C. by John R. McCarthy

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JRcC Hotel B istol Lyon France February Mr Walter S Rggers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York N Y Dear Mr Rogers Fog shrouded Lyon third largest France noted reasons especially enjoys dreariest weather known boasts geographical position which centu strategic trade The centre peninsula flanked Rhone other SaSne which disappears Rhne south Lyon access water southward larseille Mediterranean north eastward system canals Loire SeirAe Atlantic Old Lyon settlement right SaSne Roman village where Augustus aqueduct built Roman prefects passed their undoubtedly cursing weather hillside villas In later years prosperity spilled peninsula ultimately across RhSne where today modern business residential tricts found Frenchmen saying Lyon rivers whether declaration provides RhBne masculine French Saone femxnne I Their offspring fairly healthy today Because heavily industrialized because there variety products region including goods trucks metals chemicals leather articles nylon Lyon place which study French labor situation In talks labor leaders Paris visits large truck facto printing plant I little about labor oganization ganization The history French organized labor century apart C F T C which considered below written largely terms union group dissidents The union Confederation Generale Travail C G T fended endowed clear statement doctrine policies Charter Amiens The Le Jouhaux The dissidents Communists active group French labor since Since ironical dissidents under leadershxp Benozt F achon controlled C G T while Jouhaux first career finds himself outside union C G T Force Ouvere Workers Force Jouhaux first split Communists arose difference belief which alienated groups twice since Jouhaux always contended majority C G T period years syndical movement should remain entirely aloof allegiance political parties In those believed future JRMcC French orkers movement Communist Internationale seceded C G T formed C G T U Untaire Durin fifteen C G T membership prestige while C G U slowly downhill spite vigorous leadership Benoit Fraohon today seoreary eneral C G T member central French Communist Party In C G T U membership O00 Fraohon returned Jouha preponderance Communists Comit6 C nfgdral National C G T Kv rning board Until managed together Frachon followers expelled refusing denounce Stalin Hitler In leaders joined forces again underground C G T which after rapidly became Communist controlled apparently because Counis better organized worked harder workers which In result general srlke which Jouhaux charged sought betterment worker rather Communist Party Jouhaux seceded taking million members became C G T F O Another million simply dropped labor movement leaving C G T about million Since unions pursued notabl ferent policies That C G T indistinguishable French Communist which insisted raising government minimum social security benefits That C G T F O which I hereafter F O consisted rather reiterated demands lowering prices The strike which either selled C G T member million deflated million depending whose office happens sitting vigorous prosecution C G T demands which F O refused support In spite advertized failure strike bring increase C G T claims moral victory showi fascism government deteination shall Plan imperialists enslave France The campaign higher wages continues LEe PeuDle C G T weekly newspaper demands these increase wages When bourgeois economist I I asked Mr Serval Secretary C G T Deptment Union Lyon would prevent general increase being followed general price increase answered properly government would dispose problem If C G T breathing France Third Force governments assumed F especially friendly The F O clarion calls deflation productive nothing tangible except price freezing decrees early January newsletter whether latter really merely drive modities expanded black market If there general price during F O would gained workers confidence might easily taken ascends C G T Unfortunately retail prices Paris JRMcC reflection however imperfect happened nation Bouzanquet F O secretaries national headquarters Paris quite willing admit result organization count itself lucky picked members during memberships pecess renewal To insight C G T F O along under circumstances where cooperate extent I visit Berliet vehicle factory Lyon suburb The Berliet factory employs workers technicians producing trucks buses Its buildings modern lighted remarkably clean damage repaired machine years being replaced funds exchange allotments available Because several members Be family convicted collaboration duing Gezmau pation management plant taken their hands entrusted government appointed administrator The administrator I members C G T F O competent liked under guidance management committee ganized which representatives The drawback Communist vacancy occurred position sincerely couldn working class movement advanced unless appoin Communist After vacancies filled manner F O regretfully demsded administrator incident broke management committee which vified since F O demand granted The C G T plant change administrators fascism hastened however F O workers solidly opposed fellow C G T membex entrance scene Berliet family intimated matters common workers could ferret syndical differences The F O people approximately thing qualified noting C G T members couldn always trusted common because their obligation trouble makers I found impossible obtain reliable figures relative syndical strength either Berliet plant Lyon The C G T office Lyon instance realizin I slready Berliet plant Said reakdewn there C G T F O C F T C remainin unorganized Yet C G T plant delegate talked considerable numbe uncooperative F O workers The F O ridiculed C G T while professing concern large number ganized workers which declared higher As C F T C willing admit least majority The Confederation Frangaise Travailleurs Chr6tiens France third largest labor union about members Founded saccessor Catholic syndicate French false collar workers today white collars common France gained member rapidly among solidly Catholic regions Alsace Lorraine today seems working class C G T which nevertheless continues taunt being group false collar The C F T C membership restricted Catholics although great majority organization social philosophy Catholic Article their statutes categoric The Confeder ation resolves inspired activity Church confor mable encyclical Return Leo XIII Be cause doctrinal rientation history cordial lations Popes Benedict XV Plus XI Plus XII exceptions French Catholic clergy C F T C flowed along channel apart stream French labor movement The C F T C flatly denies inevitability class warfare while Communists assert cardinal pinciple Jouhaux followers socialist tendency prirciple inclined regard evident which disproven I could satisfactory statement problem Paris F headquarters French erful language which evade issue In actise however C F T C often worked other labor groups Last instance joined C G T strike Since June F O C F T C linked cartel obring joint pressure government action lower prices These unions C G T F O C F T C eground labor movement background filled sketchily independent syndicates which local rather national influence What picture coming If anything comes clear rapid review French labor situation French labor organizations individualistic hence pluralistic French people The effects inability Jouhaux Frachon Christians hands anything except limited immediate obvious anyone takes French world The virtual impossibility collectig taxes hi6her bracket incomes effective trust lation universality local price agreements other practises evasion child labor legislation these observations labor leaders telling attributable labor unity general political instability In respects French capitalist seems enjoy privileges U S nineteenth century robber barons explain hatred French capitalism which regards naturally knows From statement C G T member indirect taxes unreasonably because government prepare under aegis arshall Plan sound quite ontreuil H toire ouvemet Ouvzie_ France Aubier Paris The excellent whole subject JRMcC strange would American worker The French worker participate either union member citizen effective public control capital knows It should mentioned hewever France quota above represents extreme point Both F O C F T C support arshall Plan Whether bring golden gifts whirlwind largely whether general liwing conditions Riht significant factor large number workers syndical movement entiz One source states instance immediately after liberation Lyon workers union members figure dropped below This independents object extensive proselytizing three unions unfortunately creditable The C G T somewhere between million advantages established organization backed addition practise preachment powerful political party disadvantages being party The F O between million scraped throu first rocky prices The C F T C probably continue attract Catholics Catholics willing accept Catholic social principles maintaining relations clergy country where still rather distinction Sincerely Received New York