FRANCE: ONE-DAY SHOPKEEPERS STRIKE HIGHLIGHTED BY CLOSURES AND MASSIVE TRAFFIC JAMS

Record ID: 342069

  • Title: FRANCE: ONE-DAY SHOPKEEPERS STRIKE HIGHLIGHTED BY CLOSURES AND MASSIVE TRAFFIC JAMS
  • Date: 16th April 1969
  • Summary: CLOSED SHOPS & CAFES; AR DE TRIOMPHE; VARIOUS TRAFFIC JAMS & POLICEMEN CONDUCTING TRAFFIC. Initials LD/V/CR/SGM Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 1st May 1969 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVA9PTYDZ0QOK8WBQD47RNMIX8QO
  • Story Text: SHOPKEEPERS THROUGHOUT FRANCE TODAY (WEDNESDAY) STAGED A MASSIVE PROTEST AGAINST THE TAX AND SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM. CAFES, RESTAURANTS, TOBACCONISTS, FISHMONGERS AND SMALL SHOPS NOT SELLING FOOD REMAINED CLOSED ALL DAY. AND IN PARIS THE STRIKING SHOPKEEPERS STAGED SERIES OF UNSCHEDULED MOTORISED DEMONSTRATIONS WHICH CAUSED LARGE TRAFFIC JAMS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CITY.

    THE STRIKE, WHICH CALLS FOR A REDUCTION IN TAKES AND A REFORM IN SICKNESS INSURANCE FOR NON-SALARIED PEOPLE, FOLLOWED YESTERDAY'S DEMONSTRATIONS IN LILLE, IN NORTHERN FRANCE, WHERE RIOT POLICE WERE CALLED OUT TO CLEAR THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATING SHOPKEEPERS FROM THE CITY CENTRE.

    THOUGH WIDELY OBSERVED IN THE PARIS AREA, THE STRIKE WAS NOT ENDORSED IN THE MORNING BY SOME OF THE PROVINCIAL LOCAL MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATIONS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT BY LATE AFTERNOON 99 PERCENT OF THE COUNTRY'S SHOPS WERE CLOSED AND IN AN ATTEMPT TO ALLY THE STRIKERS' DISCONTENT, THE GOVERNMENT LET IT BE KNOWN THAT TODAY'S CABINET MEETING WOULD DISCUSS THE SHOPKEEPERS DEMANDS AND INVESTIGATE CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION BETWEEN SMALL AND BIG BUSINESSES.

    IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CLOSURE MOVES, THE PARIS STRIKERS STAGED SEVERAL DEMONSTRATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY. DRIVING IN GROUPS OF 20 OR 30 CARS WITH THEIR HORNS BLARING TO ATTRACT ATTENTION TO THEMSELVES, THEY CAUSED MASSIVE TRAFFIC JAMS IN MOST SECTORS OF THE CITY.

    THE PROTEST COMES ONLY ELEVEN DAYS BEFORE THE REFERENDUM WHICH PRESIDENT DE GAULLE HAS CALLED FOR APRIL 27 AND, AFTER WHICH, HE HAS THREATENED TO RESIGN IF THE ELECTORATE DOES NOT ENDORSE HIS PROPOSALS TO VEST MORE POWER IN REGIONAL AUTHORITIES AND STRIP THE SENATE OF ITS LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY.
  • 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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