The council workers in Montpellier, a town of some 200,000 inhabitants, were
none too pleased to note that their actions had gone unnoticed.
About 10% of the personnel at the Town Hall were on permanent strike whilst
another section mobilised during the 'hotter' periods.
At a meeting of the General Assembly a proposition was put forward to block
access to the Town Hallin order to control in-coming people and in that way
put pressure on the non-strikers. However, this proposal was not voted on by
the assembly.
The four unions which have members in the dispute are the CGT (close to the
communist party), FO (more independant), the CFDT and the FNA (autonomous).
Seemingly with the intention of discussing security at the building whilst
this action was continuing delegates met up with the secretary of the Town Hall.
The CGT, during these discussions, stated that it was concerned that worried
about being ignored by the grassroots and could give no guarantees which
left the clear impression that acts of violence could be expected. The Town
Hall secretary suggested sending the personnel on diversionary actions so
that they would not occupy the building
In fact what the CGT was saying was without foundation since the group which
seemed likely to escalate the action was not a dangerous minority at all the
proof being that this same CGT delegate, when he went back to the workers,
tried to 'warm them up' for a little action and suggested... blocking off
the motorway by driving along it at snail pace. This was the diversion
proposed so that more virulent demands could be discouraged.
In practice the demonstrations which have takeen place in Montpellier help
the Unions as they jostlee each other in a search for new members. They put
forward the vaguest of aims such as negotiations on unemployment rather than
those demands which are continuously put forward by grassroot militants such
as the withdrawal of plans relating to the social security system. Even
worse they encourage those who are the most dedicated and then send them off
on activities designed to sap their energies. Is the situation in
Montpellier typical of what is happening elsewhere in France? One may
predict that if the grassrots do not react the unions will engage themselves
in a manipulation which will bring the country back to a society of the
negotiating spectacle.
Ronald Creagh
Universite Paul Valery
B. P. 5043
34032 Montpellier Cedex 1
France
Fax (Domicile/Home) : (33) 67 64 77 23
FREEDOM PRESS
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