'More a fitful doze than economic death' sniggered the Financial Times. And this is a fair summary of the media reaction to the French 'general strike on October.
The day of action, called by two of France's three union 1400841709 fact saw hundreds of thousands take to the streets in protest at government austenty. Dut the protes was fragmented, and one of the largest union federations didn't support it.
This fragmentation was reflected in the lack of any com mon call for action from the two sponsors - Force Ouvriere (FO) 'and the Confederation Generale de Travail (CGT); and the lack of any joint demonstration in Paris But any attempt to pretend that the action was widespread and massively fol lowed ignores the facts. Equally, any complacency part of Edith Cresson's administration would be foolhardy. Important struggles conFRONT COMMUN SYNDICAL USINOR BASSIN DE LONGWY ER F.E NGW NOSTAN REDI