French anti-union laws on the wa

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In the grip of an ever deepening economic recession the French government has now unleashed another vicious attack on the democratic rights of the working class.

Along with the Berger law dismantling social services, the Imbart law on education and the Bonnet law on immigration, Giscard's government has armed itself with another powerful weapon: the Peyrefitte law.

After a ten-day debate in Parliament-and thanks to the cooperation of Communist and Socialist Party deputies who walked out of the house before a vote in protest against the use of reactionary procedure by the Speaker, the law was passed by a comfortable majority on 21 June.

This law bears many similarities with the Tory Employment Bill.

Various categories of trade union struggles are now declared illegal, and the law is designed to reduce to the bare minimum if not totally undermine the efficiency of trade union struggles.

For instance, the traditional tactic of occupation of rail tracks during a dispute with the French railway corporation SNCF could now lead to an imprisonment of between three months and two years.

The law gives the police carte blanche to harass and imprison workers in struggle.

Another aspect of it is that damage to a bosses' property during a trade union dispute is now covered by stringent criminal legislation and incurs the same penalties.

The Peyrefitte law also goes far beyond simply attacking trade union immunities, extending various aspects of criminal legislation in order to strengthen the arm of the law.

1) A second offender will receive at least a doubling of normal sentences for the same crime. In the past one needed to commit the same crime more than twice before any increase of the average sentence is imposed.

This provision would also limit considerably the ability of workers to argue mitigating circumstances.

2) Sentences without privileges (leave, conditional discharge, open prison, etc) will be extended to cover all important crimes and offences. It will automatically operate • for sentences years.

3) "Conspiracy to commit a crime" has been more broadly defined, and the sentence incurred has been increased:

New powers 4) Other measures relating to the procedure of defence have been changed, giving new powers to courts to speed up trials if, in the eyes of the prosecution, there is enough evidence to proceed-leaving offenders French CP leader Marchais with little time adequate defence.

5) The last clause epitomizes the anti-working class character of all these procedures and could pave the way to the establishment of a police state:

"A refusal to produce identity papers when requested by the forces of the State is a criminai offence and will carry a sentence of 10 days to three months imprisonment."

While the Berger law on social security was met with hostility by a determined working class, the Peyrefitte law was introduced in a hurry without any of the reformist or Stalinist leaders attempting to mobilise the working class.

Quibbles

On the contrary their divisive tactics bogged down the whole issue in endless procedural quibbles in Parliament.

Giscard's bosses' government will continue its onslaught on the working class and encouraged by the lack of CP or SP opposition, is already preparing another law to limit and undermine the right to strike. Giscard with Thatcher

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LIST PRESS, Wednesday 1980 30 July MONSTRUAL NEINS Howell Jackson