[RENAULT'S main factory at Billancourt, near Paris, has…]

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RENAULT'S main factory at Billancourt, near Paris, has been closed for the last four weeks.

At first several sections of unskilled workers went on strike for a major regrading claim and against speed-up.

On October 9th the management responded by locking out the rest of the plant.

The local union leaders have given little lead in fighting the lockout, though they did not at first oppose the strikers. They have called two one-day protest strikes of all Renault workers, wich have met with a varied response.

Although the management brought forward overall negotiations and made a number of concessions, the negotiations broke down over the way the management discriminated against the workers in the section that had been on strike.

Appointed

Much has been made of how the management of the nationalised Renault company, appointed under right wing governments, provoked the dispute to embarrass the Mitterrand government. More importantly, the tion of the frustration of workers who expected real change after the Left came to power but are beginning to recognise that they still need to fight for their independent interests.

The honeymoon period the government is coming an end.

Scrutiny

Mitterrand's plans for nationalisation are running into trouble in the face of filibustering by the Right in Parliament and economic sabotage. This week one of the major firms to be nationalised transferred ten per cent of its assets to a Swiss subsidiary - Mitterrand is, ot course, unwilling to call on the 1 workers to take control of these companies and open their books to public scrutiny.

At the same time, the government is facing increasing economic problems. Finance minister Delors has opened negotiations with the unions to try to get them to accept a 12 per cent ceiling on wage rises (inflation is running at 14 per cent), in return for concessions over the unions' legal position.

Edmond Maire, leader of the Socialist-oriented CFDT, recently made a strong attack on the government, which in turn prompted a strong defence of Mitterrand by the other federations, including the CP-led CGT.

The parties which form the government also face problems. The Socialist Party, which held its congress this week, faces renewed conflict between the Right, led by Michel Rocard, who argued against 'maximalism' , and SP members who are frustrated by the slowness and ineffectiveness of the government's measures.

The CP, which is holding its congress early next year, is torn by debate about the party's disastrous showing at this year's elections. number of oppositionists in the Paris region have been expelled.

The Mitterrand government, and the CP and SP, will not be able to satisfy the demands and aspirations of workers like at Renault. As the government tries to pass on the costs of the capitalist crisis, those aspirations will cme increasingly into conflict with the government.