by a Freneh correpondent
IS = March 11. France's coal miners have been out on strike since March lst. Other strikes have likewise been called, the miners in the east, the natural gas workers of Lacge The miners' struggle, by far the most important, has aroused strong feelings of solidarity. In the mine areas not only the workers in other industries, but the mine engineers, * small business-= men, even the clergy, immediately supported the demands of the miners as justified. They were followed last week by 15 mimute solidarity strikes throughout France. In addition, the gas and electricity workers stopped work for two hours in token of their sympathy and the railway workers are scheduled to follow up their sympathy with similar actions. Expressions of solidarity are now spreading across the entire continent of Europe. Coal has become "hot cargo" and workers in other countries are refusing to handle deliveries for France.
The point of departure for the miners’ movement was the .demand to bring their wages back to the level lost through inflation. In recent years, faced with mounting prices, workers in private industry, above all the skilled layers, have been able to maintain their standard of living, primarily due te full employment and a scarcity of labour. But government workers and functionaries, employees of cities and public services (like the mines) hav’nt . received sufficient of the wage increases to make up for the decline in the standard of living. The miners have felt this need particularly acutely. Right efter the War, when there was urgent need for: their labour, they made gains. Today with the G@cline of coal as a source of energy, they are working in a sick imdustry. Statistics show that since 1957 wages of the miners have fallen 11.5% a those of private industry.