FRANCE: GAS AND ELECTRICITY STRIKE HITS BUSINESS AND HOMES.

Record ID: 342012

  • Title: FRANCE: GAS AND ELECTRICITY STRIKE HITS BUSINESS AND HOMES.
  • Date: 23rd March 1966
  • Summary: TRAFFIC SCENES, RAILWAY AND UNDERGROUND STATIONS, HOUSEHOLD CHORES BY CANDLELIGHT. Initials RGM/V/J/BB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th April 1966 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVAEWGCMUK22TF0CTC1PCTPGQ74C
  • Story Text: HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE AFFECTED IN FRANCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AS THE NATION WAS HIT BY A COUNTRY-WIDE STRIKE OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY WORKERS. MANY FACTORIES WERE FORCED TO SHUT DOWN AND RAIL AND PARIS UNDERGROUND SERVICES WERE CURTAILED.

    THE STRIKES ARE PART OF A NATIONAL TRADE UNION CAMPAIGN FOR HIGHER PAY AND BETTER CONDITIONS. PARTICULARLY IN THE STATE-RUN INDUSTRIES. RAILWAY WORKERS ARE EXPECTED TO ADD TO THE CHAOS ON FRIDAY. THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO STRIKE, FOR THE SECOND TIME IN TWO WEEKS, FROM MIDNIGHT ON THURSDAY.

    THOUSANDS OF WORKERS IN PARIS REMAINED AT HOME AND OTHERS WALKED TO WORK. SUBURBAN AND UNDERGROUND TRAINS OPERATED AT FIFTY PER CENT THEIR NORMAL STRENGTH. ALL WERE PACKED DURING THE MORNING PEAK RUSH PERIOD, ALTHOUGH 400 ARMY TRUCKS ORDERED TO BRING WORKERS IN FROM OUTLYING DISTRICTS TO THE CITY WERE NEVER FILLED.

    MANY TRAVELLED INTO PARIS BY CAR AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS WERE MADE EVEN MORE COMPLICATED BY THE POWER CUTS WHICH EXTINGUISHED MANY OF THE ROAD SIGNALS.

    DESPITE PREDICTIONS OF A DAY WITHOUT FRESH BREAD -- BECAUSE A SHORTAGE OF GAS SUPPLIES MIGHT NOT HEAT OVENS -- MANY BAKERIES STAYED OPEN TO SUPPLY PEOPLE WITH THEIR FAVOURITE FRENCH THIN LOAVES.

    ALL ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECEIVED THEIR FULL ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES AND DAILY NEWSPAPERS, POWERED BY THEIR OWN GENERATORS, APPEARED AS USUAL. MOST RESTAURANTS REMAINED OPEN, ALTHOUGH THERE WERE MORE COLD DISHES ON THE MENUS THAN USUAL.

    IN HOMES, TOO, COLD FOOD WAS EATEN IN MOST CASES AND CANDLES WERE USED LAST NIGHT AS ELECTRICITY SUPPLIES WERE CUT.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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