European dockyard struggles

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nationalised and other social reforms instituted.

The latest events shów the problems which exist in defending such gains in backward countries without the political The strike by 60,000 workers in the government dockyards and munitions factories of France has increased in strength over the last week.

Giscard's government lost no time in unleashing the repressive forces of the state against this mass action in defence of a wage claim.

After a powerful strike in 1951, the workers in these sectors gained parity with isation faced difficulties because of economic problems in the West. He called for a discussion on "negative tendencies happening within the capitalist economies, but which to a certain degree reflect on the economy of the world Socialist system"

at engineers in Paris, and this meant substantial wage increases.

But in March of last year, Barre's cabinet decreed that this arrangement would be 'suspended' for twelve months only.

The hostility of the workers intensified this year, when the government refused to return to the 1951 settlement.

The present strike began in the traditionally militant yard of Brest early this month, and rapidly spread Congress of the Yugoslav League of Communists, President Tito, in his opening address, hypocritically attacked grave shortcomings in the country's economic performance, which include lOW productivity and "shameful" competition among Yugoslay firms in foreign markets. He also attacked soaring inflation. to other yards.

The Maritime Police banned all mass meetings at the docks and used dogs to help enforce lockouts, while regular police have launched violent attacks on pickets at Lorient.

Although the government is demanding the ending of the strike as a precondition for talks, last Tuesday the workers in Brest voted with a majority of 76% to continue their strike indefinitely.

The use of state violence against the working class is not of course unique to the French bourgeoisie.

Amid the present strike wave, Giscard must be watching with envy the legal powers possessed by the "democrats' who noW operate the machinery of the Francoist state in Spain.

The Civil Governor of Barcelona-a position invested with massive authority by Franco's dictatorship-moved in to end the eight week dispute in the city's docks.

1,800 workers had been operating a go-slow in protest at the derisory 'safety' conditions in force, and were demanding an end to the system of hiring and piece work which prevents any security of employment.

The Civil Governor was left with no option but to smash this phase of the movement by dropping the mask of liberal democracy, and threatening the workers not only with automatic dismissal but also with probable charges of sedition.