Prime Minister Says Magic Word 'Negociate' on Strike's 17th Day

Non-stop Meetings are Being Held by All Parties as Strike Goes On

The strikes continue today, with Paris particularly paralysed this morning due to many returning to the capital after the weekend. Traffic jams diminished last week, until Friday, when a lot of workers who were staying in Paris hotels, returned home; and this morning they came back again. Radio FIP said the cork ('bouchon') was 21 km long, from Orgeval to the St. Cloud Tunnel on the A13 at 8:45 this morning.

Although talks between all parties concerned are going on around the clock, the massive demonstrations called for by union leaders for tomorrow, is still on. Past demonstrations in this conflict have not been especially large in Paris itself, (15,000 to 60,000) but simultanous demonstrations in cities and towns thoughout the country have been much larger (10,000 - 30,000) than is normally the case.

If strikers hear the right words, it may be over quickly. One SNCF worker said, "Everybody is in a hurry to go back to work," on today's noon TV news.

Other News Items

- The weekend Telethon on television's A2 channel ended Saturday night / Sunday morning with pledges totalling 377 million francs - a lot for the times, but slightly less than the organisers had hoped for.

- Striking miners in Lorraine/Moselle have settled their strike over wages and most have returned to work.

- In the second round of legislative elections, to replace deputies who were elevated to France's Senate, five out of seven seats went to leftist candidates. The government retains its overwhelming majority.

- The annual free-meals action, started 10 years ago by the comedian, Colluche, called 'Restos de Coeur,' swung into operation today. 'Restos de Coeur' will be providing 2-3000 hot meals a day to the penniless and homeless until 15. March.

- The mountains are there and so is the snow: the ski stations in the Savoie Alps have opened as usual 10 days before the winter school break. Due to road conditions - not enough of them - many people who normally go to the Alps for winter sports, take public transport. The ski resort organisers in Savoie have chartered a bus to make daily runs from Paris and reservations are necessary. Telephone 42 61 74 73. The bus will leave daily at 20:00 from 58, boulevard St. Jacques, Paris 14. The fare is 500 francs for adults, 300 for children under 12.

Return to Richard Erickson's Paris Journal

Updated 12/95