French 'Dennings stall nationalisation South African

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FRANCE too has its Lord Dennings. On January 16 its Constitutional Council overruled the Socialist-led

Government's plans to nationalise several French banks and big firms.

This council, se under de Gaulle's authoritarian constitution of 1958, consists of nine members, appointed for nine-year terms by the President of the Republic, the President of the Assembly, and the President of the Senate.

All its present members are right-wingers, appointed by right-wing Presidents. (Mitterrand gets to replace three of them in 1983). The youngest is 68. And their ruling corresponds exactly to what the right-wing parties were pushing.

Not generous The Council said that the nationalisation law was unconstitutional because its compensation terms were not generous enough -even though the compensation had already been increased after pressure from the Council of State, another right-wing dominated official committee. It's not clear, but it looks as if the Government will have to pay another 30% more compensation - another £900 million to the bourgeoisie!

And there'll be a few fortunes to be made in speculation on the shares of the firins to be nationalised.

What would Michael Foot say? Marxists' argument about parliamentary democracy is precisely that this sort of undemocratic obstruction is likely to face any radical parliamentary government. Either the government backs down _ or if it uses its democratic

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mandate to override the constitutional obstacles, it must be ready to mobilise the workers to meet the VAIL THRALYAN counter-revolutionary violence which the ruling class will deploy (in the name of constitutionalism!) once its constitutional safeguards fail.

Presumably Michael Foot believes that the principles of parliamentary democracy necessitate backing down. Certainly Mitterrand and Mauroy have backed down - as their government has backed down every time in face of determined or noisy opposition from the Right.

These backdowns have won them a more friendly attitude trom big business. The new head of the French CBI, Yvon Gattaz, visited Mitterrand soon after taking office on January 1, and told a bosses' conference, 'We have been agreeably surprised by M. Delors (the finance minister's) statements."

Some serious reforms are still going through. ON January 13 there was a government decree reducing the maximum work-week from 40 hours {the 1936 law) to 39. Overtime was also limited, and a fifth week of paid annual holiday made compulsory.

So much for the great tries of triumph with which AUEW leader Terry Duffy heralded the 39 hour week he negotiated - with so many strings and delays -for the British engineering industry!

The reduced work-week without loss of pay for workers on the legal minimum wage in France, but for other workers loss of pay or otherwise depends on what they can nego. tiate with their employers.

Concessions The government sees the 39 hour week as part of the fight against unemployment, and is also offering tax concessions to firms which reduce hours further. But on the government's own calculations the measure will create only some 50,000 to 100,000 jobs.

Unemployment in France is over two million and still rising. Revolutionary Marxists are demanding the immediate introduction of the 35 hour week and proposing a fight for work-sharing with no loss of pay.

IN TURKEY, the trial THE ENTIRE 500-strong workforce of Dunlop Floorings at East London in the Eastern Cape have been dismissed.

Dunlop Flooring is the biggest flooring factory in southern Africa producing soft and hard floorings, tiling and carpeting.

The workers in the factory are in dispute with Dunlop management over pension rights and the company's refusal to negotiate with the South African Allied Workers' Union (SAAWU). It is clear that Dunlop is following Rowntrees in collaborating with the South African authorities' attempt to smash the SAAWU - an attempt that has already taken the life of one woman union member. Dunlop is also fully collaborating with the 'homelands' policy.

Sham

Against opposition from the workers, Dunlop is changing the pension rights to bring them into line with the workers' new 'foreign' status, as the Ciskei, where most of the workers live, received its sham 'independence' this month.

SAAWU began organising in Dunlop Flooring in November 1980. Management reacted by threatening to sack union members and harassing members and organisers. In spite of this SAAWU membership is presently about 75% of the workforce.

When workers showed dissatisfaction over the Pension Fund scheme last February 27 workers were dismissed. Objections continued and on 19th October the workers sent a delegation to negotiate their demand for refund of pension contributions.

On 22nd October, workers demanded a clear explanation of company policy on the Pension Scheme. Instead they were given an ultimatum to go back to work or be dismissed. They decided to strike.

The company is refusing to negotiate with SAAWU and has been recruiting workers to replace the strikers, who are facing police harassment.

Help

SAAWU members working in another British owned company operating in the Eastern Cape, Wilson Rowntree, are still striking after 10 months for union recognition.

We must not allow the struggle in Dunlops to drag on in this way. Immediate help is needed.

SAAWU has appealed for international solidarity, and has contacted unions in INTERNATIONAL ACTION Britain. The union has called for anyone directly or indirectly involved in handling material or products for or from Dunlop SA to refuse to handle such goods.

Other solidarity action: • Put a motion to your union branch or trades council calling for reinstatement of all the strikers; commitment to meaningful negotiations by Dunlop; no recognition of the 'independence' of Ciskei. • Send a letter to Dunlop UK supporting the strikers.

• Send a telegram or letter of support to SAAWU PO Box 7002, East London 5200, South Africa.

O Boycott all materials and products for and from Dunlop SA.

• If you work for Dunlop UK, press your union to take up the issue with the company at both plant and national level.

Please send reports of action taken to the North West Trade Union Anti-Apartheid Liaison Committee, 59 Tintern Ave, Marchester 20.

STUART HOWARD TWI PETE EVANS, GMWI NG