In addressing the wholesale butchers who so often accused the syndicate - and especially the president - of failing to defend their interests energetically enough, (1)the President simply replied by quoting one of the masters of Latin prose - to say the least, not a frequent occurrence in meat circles!
" Tacit" he explained, "tells us in the Annals that the armies of General Junius Blaesus had begun to revolt. The General called them to gather and tried to kindle their common sense. Just when finally managed to calm everything down, Vibulenus, one of his legionaries, started to speak acrimoniously accusing the chief of arresting his brother having him executed without a proper trial."
" The revolt spread even more."
" Junius Blaesus, who had nothing to apologize for, asked for a survey to be made and was soon to learn that Vibulenus never even had a bother. Once again, he called his armies to meet and the revolt came to a final stop."
" In France, we are going through tough times, and there are quite a few people around similar to Vibulenus. Some speak in bad faith and others are simply under the influence of misinformation."
" But, even though we may not have too many Vibulenus's, our corporation is still being adversely affected because it is so often unaware of all the efforts put forth by its leaders and the results they manage to obtain in defense of its interests." (2)[…] "
This being said, the syndicate president proceeded to give an overview of the global situation, recalling all the troubles the corporation had been through over previous months:
" The butcher's business in general, and wholesaling in particular," he said, "are the scapegoat of public opinion and therefore of our governmental leaders too. No one understands or wants to understand that, even though since 1931 the price of live cattle has fallen by 50 %, no equivalent drop has trickled down to the consumer, because of the levels of taxation. (3) […]
In referring to the famous law of 16 1935 which resolutely upheld the concept of slaughtering at the place of production(4), M. Lévy stressed that the Central Meat Committee in charge of its application, granted subsidies to private firms. This, in spite of the fact that article 2 states that only those establishments set up by the communes, chambers of agriculture, agricultural cooperatives of joint ventures are eligible for loans, and hence, for subsidies."
He added that M. Riffaterre, whose initial draft law was voted down in 1934, had just come up again through the issuance of a new proposal that constituted an attempt to eliminate the corporation in view of replacing it by a Central Meat Board.
So, clearly, the situation was less than optimistic. The wholesaler syndicate leaders which just a few weeks earlier thought that the series of laws and decrees would lead to regaining confidence in the franc, now began to see things in a very different light (5). Event though they were successful, following many actions undertaken with ministers, parliamentarians, and committees in the Chamber of Representatives and Senate, in making sure they didn't become the "target" of a whole series of decrees and laws, for retail butchers it wasn't the same.
The political upheavals France experienced in early spring of 1936 were soon to affect slaughterhouse employers in a way for which they were largely unprepared. This whole period was fraught with social issues as well as the development by syndicate and National Butcher's Federation of a system intended to defend their professional interests against overly exaggerated worker claims (6). "
Let us briefly recall the situation as it stood at the time. By way of example, a quote from François Goguel would be appropriate:
" In early 1936, further to the governmental crisis arising from internal and external political concerns as opposed to failed deflation, (7), the government headed by Albert Sarraut replaced the Pierre Laval cabinet. The intent of this government was simply to gain time pending the national elections planned for the following spring. Its necessarily fleeting existence made it impossible to continue fighting for deflation or embarking on an economic policy based on new principles. […](8)
The outcome is general knowledge. The socialist led Popular Front government came into power on 4 June 1936 under the presidency of Léon Blum: " We were about to move in a new direction regarding what the new President of the Council designated as "the Blum experience " (9).
Here, we can review the consequences on the wholesale meat trade.
Forming a cabinet took a full month during which strikes swept throughout the country. This movement was to quickly gain ground in an entity as large as La Villette that contained so many small-size craftsmen. This was a source of great surprise to the wholesale butchers.
A few months later "How could such a large 'disaster' occur in the meat industry" asked M. Debessac the General Delegate of the National Wholesale Butchers Federation, in conjunction with the sector report for 1936 (10).
" Our corporation, he said, "was one in which relations between workers and employers were largely of a family nature. The craftsmanship character of our trade could do nothing but strengthen the mutual ties forming the bond between workers and employers who see each other every day to talk shop and continuously work together. We were all convinced that the social upheaval affecting our country at the beginning of the second half of 1936 in no way would affect workers in the wholesale butchery trade. In spite of this, the workers let themselves be enticed by the prevailing winds and insisted on joining a movement that later was to spread throughout France […] "
"The wholesales admit that some of the social legislation imposed on the employers should be granted to the working class, but found it hard to endure the impediments this placed on the practice of their trade."
These lines, excerpted from the 1936 organization report of the National Federation of Wholesale Butchers, (11) are indicative of the tense atmosphere prevailing in the ranks of the employers:
" The extent and constant repetition of claims by the workers has introduced a particularly tough side to the lives of the employers. Do people really understand what the majority of employers endure with regard to application of the new local legislation? Especially when you consider that it is compounded with the ever-growing fiscal obligations they have to contend with? Today, employers are constantly threatened by any incident that risks arising from a dispute instigated by any worker representative. Even though they might start to get used to strikes, you can't get away from the fact that for a very long time they have lived in fear of them. The ensuing negative effects seriously affected the professional occupations of the employers. Especially in instances were they are members of a syndicate office, they have to negotiate in all circumstances just to get the workers back to their jobs, make appearances before joint commissions and reconciliation commissions, and ask for help from arbitrators sometimes appointed by force. How many discussions, talks, reports, and compromises entered into, how many hours of the day and night added to the usual daily routine?
"As a member of a syndicate bureau, the employer is constantly harassed not only by worker claims but also by requests for explanations by his representatives, a logical but also extremely time consuming occupation. He has to put extra hours into studying circular letters, interpreting legal and regulation texts. He is required to attend syndicate meetings, undertake formalities, and produce official information. All this, when he would sometimes prefer to relax amidst all the hysteria, just to take stock. But instead the only perspective in view is to carry on with this tumultuous life. "
M. Debessac brought to a close his statements with these somewhat bland words:
" Thus, an elite, and we use that term with no pretension, witnesses the constant battering of its activity, nears nervous breakdown and remains without hope of any tranquility. It is no longer possible for us to continue holding out in this climate of unending intensity "
For lack of witnesses it is difficult to say just how the slaughterhouse workers in 1936 actually lived though this difficult period. On the other hand, we will see a little later on the state of mind prevailing among their leaders in the spring of 1938 by studying some leaflets that were distributed at the time. Meanwhile, let's try to describe how the social movement swept through the La Villette complex.
A few days prior to the elections of May 1936, representatives of the slaughterhouse workers asked to meet the president of the wholesaler's syndicate. Their intention was to ask him to inform the corporation of their determination to be granted a paid holiday on the 1st of May (12) and simultaneously to made other demands. Noteworthy is that some demands were curiously close to those upheld by the wholesalers. They wanted the slaughtering tax and town dues cut. The members of the wholesalers syndicate replied that they accepted studying their declarations and stated that they would respect the freedom to work and would do everything within their power to avoid clashes(13).
All these issues were discussed on May 5 during a meeting of the board of directors of the wholesaler's syndicate. General secretary M. Chopinet stated that he had worked on the 1st of May and that he would continue to do so as long as it was not a legal holiday, adding that he didn't have any intention to receive instructions from Moscow!
Speaking much more subtly, the president said he thought that the issue of public holidays deserved closer study. He suggested that it could prove interesting on this occasion to call for the closure all cattle and meat markets in the Department of Seine (14).
He subsequently read a letter that had been sent to him by the General Slaughterhouse Worker's Syndicate asking the wholesale butchers to participate in financing this holiday which he planned on organizing on the 5th of July 1936. It was to comprise a fishing contest and bike race. After discussions, the Board agreed to contribute 200 francs.
A few weeks later the Syndicate triggered hostilities. At the outset the workers demands concerned only the wholesale veal dealers. On May 14th the workers demanded a meeting with the butchers in order to present their claims. Following discussion the majority of the points brought up were settled. But on June 1 the workers made new demands, i.e. :
1° Suspension of Sunday duty
2° Fixing of a minimum salary.
The wholesale butcher's syndicate board of directors gave in to these two demands. But this however, did not stop the workers from striking in the morning of June 5th. Considering the gravity of the situation, the Syndicate leaders decided to call the wholesale butchers to a meeting the same days at the General Meeting. During this meeting M. Beaugrand, representative of the Slaughterhouse Workers General Syndicate, and at their behest, explained the reasons behind the attitude of his co-workers. He stressed that they were ready, provided the employers accepted their demands, to join with them in the struggle against the common enemy, namely the industrial slaughterhouse.
After pointing out that the workers in no way underestimated the importance of getting supplies into Paris, M. Beaugrand promised that work would start up as early as the next day if the employers accepted the demands of his comrades.
The slaughterhouse workers demanded minimum wages for each category, suspension of "Sunday" duty and tried to set the daily slaughtering minimum to 3 cows per worker with one extra cow per team of 3 men, 8 calves per worker, and 35 sheep per worker. In addition, they demanded 1-day vacation per month with a maximum of 15 days a year.
With the exception of the last claim for which, after discussion, the 15 days were reduced to 8 days, the employers accepted the terms laid down by the worker delegates. It was apparent that work was expected to resume as usual on the next day. But on June 5 M. Beaugrand, head of the slaughterhouse workers general syndicate, told President Lévy that this was out of the question. He said that the workers had the intention of taking advantage of the circumstances and wanted to make some more claims of a general nature:
1° Suspension of the slaughtering tax
2° Reduction of the town tax.
3° Prohibiting meat imports from abroad
It is significant that all three demands corresponded to those the wholesalers had been claiming for several years:
" With regard to the slaughtering tax" said one Syndicate administrator, "it seems a little strange that the wholesalers be asked to pay it. In fact, there is nothing negative about asking for its suspension".
The workers were also demanding a five day week, closure of the slaughterhouses on public holidays, the building of locker rooms and showers, the provision of a medical unit run by the Prefecture, recognition of union rights and no retaliatory measure because of the strike.
The syndicate wanted an employer's delegation to join with their own organization in order to lodge joint demands to the Prefect of the Seine. This clearly proves that at La Villette the atmosphere was somewhat different to that prevailing elsewhere. The major issue was to decide whether the employer's delegation should "operate" in parallel with the workers organization. This proposal was unanimously adopted except for one vote. Nevertheless, it was decided that, if necessary, both delegations would join together, while each one held firmly to its own autonomy.
On June 5 the Prefect received the employers and workers, stating that was impossible to enter into any sort of agreement, including for issues such as the town tax, locker rooms and showers.
At the end of this meeting an interview took place in the corridors of the Prefecture between M. Beaugrand, representative of the Slaughterhouse Workers General Syndicate, and the president of the Wholesale Butchers Syndicate. An agreement between the two was imminent. This is the text of the accord M. Beaugrand asked President Lévy to sign:
" Between the representatives of the employers organization and the Slaughterhouse Workers General Syndicate, the present agreement has been agreed:
1° Suspension of the slaughtering tax, the principal cause of high prices.
2° Reduction of the town tax, suspension of reimbursement of the duty on meat sold at Les Halles.
3° Granting of the 5-day workweek with one day set aside for rest every other working week.
4° Closure of the slaughtering on public holidays with an exception of market days, offsetting the market day by one day. Opening hours for the cattle market beginning at 7:00 a.m.
5° Building of locker rooms and showers.
6° Installation of a medical unit run by the municipal authorities. The medical unit was to be considered as a public emergency service.
7° Maintaining the status quo with regard to the central meat market that was to remain in Paris.
8° Recognition of union rights through the appointment of delegates.
9° Renunciation of taking any punitive measures for going on strike.
10° Demands made to employers of other similar organizations in order to obtain satisfaction for their workers.
" The draft agreement having been drawn up according to these principles, work shall resume tomorrow, Saturday".
This text which was presented to the General Meeting won unanimous approval.
Three days later, on Monday, June 8th 1936 at 1 a.m., The Matignon accords were signed (15). Michel Launay recalls the main points: " An average increase in salary of 12 %, limiting the work week to forty hours paid forty-eight hours", the right to "paid holidays" equivalent to two working days per full year of employment. Collective bargaining agreements per sector are also planned (16). "
0n June 30, 1936 the Syndicate Board of Directors met under chairman M. Robert Lévy. The agenda consisted of many important issues including the examination of the decisions made by the Trade Commission at the time of its latest Plenary Meeting. A few excerpts of the text published on completing the deliberations of this organism can be looked at as they shed a significant light on the climate prevailing at the time:
" The Trade Commission of the Seine, at its Plenary Meeting of June 11, 1936,
" After examining in a spirit of total objectivity the prevailing economic situation, as well as the accord agreed on June 7, 1936 between the General Confederation of French Production and the General Labor Confederation,
" according to the provisions contained in art. 5, this agreement appears to concern only those firms employing more than 10 people,
" Consequently, it is concluded that enterprises run by individuals corresponding to the definition of Master Craftsman (Law of 27 March 1934) in no way can be linked to the agreement entered into, given that the unionized craftsman organization were not consulted at the time it was written.
" As the Government has handed to the Chamber of Deputies a project that attempts to widen the conditions of application of the collective bargaining agreements stipulating that the provisions thereof, through decree by the Ministry of Labor, may become obligatory for all employers and employees working in the trades and entering into the field of application concerned thereby,
" The Trade Commission of the Seine fears that in many instances after the law comes into effect, craftsmen run enterprises will find themselves subjected to respect collective bargaining agreements, the writing of which their syndicates were never invited to participate.
" In these conditions, given the difficulties encountered in applying some of the social legislation, the Trade Commission of the Seine asks the laws of 27 March 1934 be immediately applied with regard to the definition of Master Craftsman as well as application in the Trade Register. Also for the Senate to ratify as soon as possible the draft law aimed at organizing apprenticeships with small-size craftsman. The intention of these laws is to give French craftsmen a clear-cut legal status as well as recognition as an independent social class.
" As the requirement to pay a minimum wage intended to ensure their basic needs and provide protection against social risks was recognized, the master craftsmen who in their majority are self-employed, should also benefit from a guaranteed minimum wage and proper social insurance (17) […]. "
Not only did the Trade Chamber warn the Government and Parliament against the consequences these measures would have of the small size craftsmen, it also requested that a law be presented and voted for a tax system applied to all craftsmen taking account of productivity. They wanted a law exempting them from paying duty for covering costs of the Chamber of Commerce and Commodities Exchange and other measures for improvement of their economic situation as well as insurance against risks.
Further, they demanded a law prohibiting civil servants of the central government, the departments, communes and public or private administration, and any wage earner in whatever branch or any retired person, to work during time off for other employers, on their own behalf or as co-worker. In addition, they demanded a law granting all salaried workers or small size craftsmen decent retirement benefits starting a specific age.
Needless to say, the leaders of the wholesalers syndicate, in complete agreement with the claims of made by the members of the Trade Commission, unanimously adopted all the measures they were jointly claiming.
Unfortunately for them, in September 1937, they learned from M. Grandadam, President of the Seine Trade Commission, that food supplies did not appear to deserve being considered as a small size craftsman activity by other craftsmen. This, because in 1919 public administration considered workers in this branch of economic activity as merchants and not craftsmen. They also learned that M. Poincaré felt that food merchants were not eligible for tax exemptions in the same way as craftsmen (18).
Let's return to 1936. In August the trade union drafted a collective bargaining agreement addressed to the board of directors of the wholesale butchers syndicate and the Ministry of Labor. In compliance with the process established by the law of 24 June, the minister organized an initial joint meeting on the 26th of August. During this meeting the workers' representatives demanded that their project be signed that very day. But the representatives of the wholesale butchers asked that first a preliminary discussion take place to talk about the way a point by point study could be made. The representative of the Labor Ministry set the date of 10 October 1936 as the ultimate deadline for signing the collective bargaining agreement. Needless to say the discussions were heated.
A number of sticking points lingered on both sides. They unable to agree on three points, i.e.:
1° salaries for the left bank slaughterhouse workers
2° salaries for apprentices
3° limits to be placed on the number of animals slaughtered per worker and per day.
Following several meetings of joint commissions in the presence of M. Perrin, deputy Labor Manager, and the submission of several reports on the topics slated for discussion, the Labor Minister made known his decision dated 17 December 1936. This law stated that apprentices would be eligible for salaries slightly above those suggested by the left bank syndicate but less than those being claimed by worker representatives. Animal slaughtering was limited to 3 cows per worker and per day but with an allowance for slaughtering one extra cow per team of 3 workers but not to exceed 16 animals per worker and per week.
A wide margin of decision was left to both sides for defining limitations for the calf and sheep kill.
A few days later, on the pretext of the need to study the issue in more depth, the workers' representatives again brought up the decision of the Minister of Labor. The board of directors of the wholesalers' syndicate and the employer representatives of the other corporations involved in the signing of this agreement declared that there was no way they could do so without going over the terms one more time.
One company, Artus (19), let it be known that it would not sign the agreement. Therefore, the workers' delegates considered that negotiations had been broken off and the Syndicate decided to call a strike for Friday, 15 January 1937.
In spite of the actions undertaken by the wholesale butchers' syndicate, the Prefecture of the Seine, and the representatives of the Ministry of Labor, the strike took place on Monday, 18 January. The representatives of the workers' syndicate lodged new claims, in particular with regard to the 22 % salary increase and immediate application of the 40-hour workweek. (20).
Faced with the gravity of the situation, the syndicate's Board of Directors decided to resume negotiations with the worker representatives on condition the stipulations of the arbitration law that had just been approved by Parliament on 31 December 1936, be fully implemented. This clearly meant that, prior to any arbitration discussions, the workers were to resume work.
On Tuesday, 19 January 1937 a General Meeting was held at 7:00 a.m. under the chairmanship of the syndicate vice-president Mr. Acu. Acu informed the wholesalers that at about 2:00 a.m., when the worker representatives seemed to be near accepting arbitration on the issue of working hours, other workers not part of the delegation, joined the discussions rendering impossible any degree of reconciliation or arbitration between the two parties.
In these conditions, Mr. Acu tried to get the employers to slaughter their animals themselves so supplies could be ensured to the population. This occurred under police protection sufficient enough to guarantee freedom to go to work. The strike ended the next day. (21).
That very day the government appointed Administrator General Bernard, Head Manager at the Defense and War Ministry, to act as special arbitrator in the labor dispute between the Paris wholesale butchers and the general slaughterhouse workers syndicate.
General Administrator Bernard pronounced a ruling on 22 January 1937 in the following terms: (22). "we will discuss only the fourth and sixth points respectively concerning new salary scales and payment of wages for days on strike":
" Given the preliminary agreement of 19 January 1937 signed at the prime minister's residence in the presence of Interior Minister Max Dormoy, according to the terms of which Robert Lévy, President of the National Wholesalers Federation, Joubin, President of the Slaughterhouse By-Product Industry and Annex Activities, and Tourasse, Secretary General of the Seine Department Slaughterhouse Workers Syndicate, the following was agreed:
a. To refer immediately to arbitration the disputes presently dividing workers and employers in this branch of activity.
b. To include in the ruling, a decision relative to modification of pay scales, particularly with regard to Artus and the leather industries.
" To decide that starting 20 January 1937, a salary hike will take place according to the following terms:
3 % for salaries less than 300 francs per week.
12 % for salaries between 300 and 350 francs per week as well as for workers paid on a day-to-day basis (exclusive of fatigue duty).
10 % for salaries greater than 350 francs per week.
Daily fatigue workers, 5 % for those with earnings of more than 100 francs.
10 % for workers with salaries less or equal to 100 francs.
"Considering that no salary should be payable for days on strike, but given that the date for going back to work, i.e., Wednesday 20 January for slaughtering operations changed a "light" work day into a "heavy" work day requiring a strenuous physical effort on the part of the workers,
"It has been decided to exceptionally grant workers payment equivalent to one work day."
The ruling came to a close with the following statement:
"In compliance with Art. 15 of Finance Law of 1st October 1936, the concerned parties submit to the mandatory conciliation and arbitration procedures without any recourse to lockouts or strikes, to solve any dispute not settled by the present judgement.
" In compliance to Art. 6 of the Law of 31 December 1936, the ruling is mandatory and without appeal."
For lack of documents we have no indication of the reaction of the workers syndicate after the pronouncement of this judgement. However, we do know that the General Confederation of French Employers sent a letter of protest against payment for days on strike granted to the workers by General Administrator Bernard and that the board of the wholesalers syndicate unanimously decided to publish this letter in its newsletter.
During the Annual General Meeting of 25 May 1937, the wholesalers' syndicate President, Robert Lévy, let it be known that the meat trade would not be represented at the International Fair (23). In his eyes, this was the cause of extreme regret. Extensive plans had been made for participation in this important event but unfortunately the necessary financing was not to be found (about 300,000 F). As the refrigeration industry was going to be represented the leaders of the wholesalers' syndicate felt that an equivalent effort was necessary on their part. But the other meat corporations did not follow through, so the project was finally dropped.
By way of anecdote, Secretary General of the Food Division of this Fair, M. Develle, a few months later during the closing session of the Wholesale Butchers' Federation Congress declared that:
" The food pavilion was built for the purpose of lending a special note to France's food sector. The intent was to represent the industry globally in the context of an international exhibit of international stature. Unfortunately, meat is not present. The food product sector would have been very happy to see within this Exhibit Hall space devoted to this essential commodity and especially to the primordial role played by the wholesale business for distribution. The harm caused by this lack of presence has been somewhat compensated by the favorable feelings wholesalers entertain with regard to the food industry as a whole (24) […] "
It was during this very meeting of 25 May 1937 that M. Lévy informed the corporation of his intention to terminate his mandate as president of the wholesalers syndicate handed in his resignation in to the assembly (25). After recalling that for nine years he had been a militant in the administrative council and that it was with the satisfaction of having accomplished his duty that he was leaving the presidential office(26). He added that in spite of this; he was not quitting the corporation as he continued to head the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation.
On 11 June the members of the central bureau decided to oversee the handover of power. Mr. Maurice Bonhomme, who had just been elected, stepped in the shoes of Mr. Robert Lévy. He was to head the office of president of the Syndicate to 28 January 1943.
By mid-July the slaughterhouse workers syndicate triggered a new strike further to the failure of several workers to be rehired subsequent to dismissal by Artus and La Boyauderie de la Boucherie. The spirit of solidarity began to prevail and finally spread to all the corporations at La Villette (27).
Confronted with this new "offensive", the employer's organizations that had signed the slaughterhouse collective bargaining agreement asked the National Confederation of Food Commerce and Industry to intervene in the dispute.
On 19 June, Messes Gignoux, President of the General Confederation of French Employers, Bertaux, Vice-president of the National Confederation of Food Commerce and Industry, and Bonhomme, President of the Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate, went to the Prime Minister's office where they were received by Mr. Chautemps. The Council President insisted that the employer's organization should attempt to find a basis for understanding with the workers syndicate. Shortly afterwards, the Prefect of the Seine in turn advised the representatives to appear before the Departmental Reconciliation Commission.
The negotiations were rough. The workers held to their initial claims, i.e., total rehiring of the dismissed personnel and the right to a paid vacation. And the employers, as if no conflict had ever taken place, insisted that no changes be made to the principle of freedom to hire and fire.
On 4 August 1937, Mr. Bonhomme announced with satisfaction that, according to information he had been given, the strike was soon to be over for lack of a sufficient number of participants(28).
All these issues were discussed at length during the Congress of the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation on 18, 19 and 20 September 1937. General Delegate, Mr. Debessac pointed out the fact that the collective bargaining agreement for Paris slaughterhouses included a very special clause on limiting production appended by the Minister of Labor and dated 17 December 1936.
"So in Paris", he said, "not only the workers are benefiting from limited working hours but they also won something no corporation ever obtained, i.e., the limitation of job opportunities. "
Federal President Robert Lévy pointed out that it was out of constraint and force that the Paris syndicates accepted setting limits on production. He added "the base of this limitation resulted from a workers concept according to which the fatigue laborers would eventually be taken back. But experience proved, said he, that rehiring occurred at a time when there were no unemployed, well before the application of this measure. Since the time of the last strike at the Paris slaughterhouse unemployment exists within our corporation. "
During the meeting of 19 September 1937 two agendas were unanimously agreed (29). The first issue concerned limiting production.
" This Congress declares that,
" Whereas,
" the work week is limited in French slaughterhouses to 40 hours a week, and that
" the arbitration meeting held with the Minister of Labor on 17 December 1936, at the request of the workers organizations brought yet another limitation to job perspectives by the imposition of quotas on each worker and
Given that such limitations are legally extraordinary;
" and whereas they will provoke, independently of the limited working hours stipulated by law at 40 hours, a limitation in the output of each worker, a Malthus-like solution incompatible with the very interests of Production and Consumption,
" and whereas such limitations are all the more serious when considering that the Paris slaughterhouse workers, even before application of the maximum slaughtering levels, was already enjoying exceptionally high working conditions,
" If such limitations to production were to be extended to the entire national economy, they would wind up having a widely negative effect,
" and whereas we therefore vigorously protest our objection to the arbitration ruling of 17 December 1936 limiting the slaughtering allowance of each worker in the Paris Slaughterhouses,
" and call for,
" the effects of the said ruling be discontinued after expiry and therefore that the not be extended any further."
The second document dealt with hiring and firing:
" This Congress considers that whereas,
" several times worker organizations lodged claims attempting to exert a degree of control over hiring and firing;
" whereas, if this policy were implemented it would constitute a formal infringement to employer rights,
" whereas the employer is the sole individual in a position to evaluate the capabilities of each worker and the size of the staff required to carry out production,
" whereas, application of the collective bargaining agreement gives the right to Labor Organizations to check to see at all times if dismissal of laborers contradicts the said provisions,
" they invite all the members, without exception, of the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation to respect the provisions of the said agreement, in particular with respect to the freedom of opinion and workers right to freely join or refrain from joining a trade union,
" and energetically protest against any form of control whatsoever regarding the hiring and firing of personnel. "
During this period, the organization of a system of apprenticeships gave rise to numerous discussions inside the wholesalers' syndicate. The issue of apprenticeships was discussed at the congress of the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation on 19 September 1937. General Delegate, Mr. Debessac pointed out the pressing need of the employers to train apprentices:
" The Law of 26 July 1925, he explained, was relative to the creation of a Trade Chamber, stipulating that one of ts main duties was to participate in the organization of apprenticeships. A more recent law dubbed "Walter-Paulin" regulates apprenticeships and stipulates that the Trade Chambers are required to watch over the preparation and monitoring thereof.
As the result of these provisions, the Syndicate was to be requested to develop an apprenticeship program and draft a contract slated for submittal to the Trade Chamber.
The labor organizations claimed that according to labor regulations and the decree of 21 March 1914, children less than 17 years of age were not to be employed in slaughterhouses. (30) and that consequently no apprentice could be trained prior to reaching the age of 17. The National Wholesale Butchers' Federation considered that training of adolescents could begin at the age of 14 provided that they were prohibited from slaughtering animals before the age of 17 as foreseen by the law. They asked the Minister of Labor to take the final decision on this issue.
On 26 March 1937 the Labor Inspectorate responded positively to the claims lodged by the Federation. It was pointed out that "adolescents 14 years of age are allowed to take part in all the jobs performed in the slaughterhouse on dead animals. Only killing and transfer of animals as they are slaughtered is forbidden to adolescents under the age of 17. (31). "
On 30 September 1937, the General Slaughterhouse Syndicate sent a letter to all the employer unions of La Villette. In this letter mention was made of several instances of failure to hold to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. As a result, they urged calling a meeting of the Joint Committee in order to study the said cases of infringement as well as the other worker demands, among which a new pay scale.
This dispute was probably the origin of the creation of the Meat and Meat By-Products Union (U.V.E.D) which was supposed to be in charge of settling social issues (32). Mr. Bonhomme was selected to head this new organism.
All these issues were the topic of protracted debates at the time of the Syndicate Board meeting held on 12 November. The agenda included the issue of non-adherence to the collective bargaining agreement as well as examination of the claims lodged by the French Professional Syndicate.
President Bonhomme informed the Board that an agreement had been signed on 30 October between the U.V.E.D. and the General Slaughterhouse Workers' Syndicate. It had been decided to set up a joint commission consisting of 4 employer and labor members two of whom were to be permanent for each side. This commission was then expected to handle the examination of any instances of non-adherence to conditions stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement.
The president pointed out that the cases of non-adherence the Workers' Syndicate was talking about already went back several months and that the majority was not built on any really solid foundations.
With respect to modifying the pay scale, the French Professional Syndicate (33) demanded a blanket increase of 10 %, a seniority bonus of 2.5 % upon completion of five years increased to 3 % for each 5-year period for up to 20 years of employment, an annual vacation of 21 working days after five years of employment, payment for time spent on military duty, family subsidies and severance pay of 2500 francs.
The members of the Syndicate were divided on these issues. The president felt it would be better to struggle with the worker representatives than to request recourse to a reconciliation and arbitration procedure (34). An influential member of the board, Mr. Mesnil figured that it would not be good to grant any rise in salary given that during all the discussions held with the workers' organization the Syndicate had always made a point of the fact that the slaughterhouse employees earned wages notably higher than those paid in other branches of commerce and industry.
"The majority of our colleagues", he said, "are unable to proceed in this way. Furthermore, it would be a serious blow to the pubic authorities who consider our earnings to be very substantial. " Hence, he supported the idea that the struggle was to be continued to the bitter end, even if it did entail recourse to arbitration.
Following an extended discussion, the Board decided to respond negatively to any increase in salaries and, if necessary, to address the problem to ruling by arbitration.
Among the numerous problems the managerial team of the wholesalers syndicate had to confront there was one that most certainly had not been foreseen, i.e., the cost of cleaning the slaughterhouses during the strike.
On 7 November 1937 the municipal affairs department claimed payment of 68.000 francs from the wholesalers' syndicate. This represented the expense incurred by the authorities for removal of refuse as well as for seizure of meat being sold in different areas during the strikes occurring since June 1936.
To justify its claim the City of Paris made reference to the fact that it had transferred all the shared areas of the slaughterhouse to the wholesale butchers. In no way did it consider that the strike was a case of force majeure or that any damage caused by demonstrations, strikes, etc. be paid for by the local authorities if it was ascertained that the organization of policing had been defective.
The Syndicate leaders pointed out to the municipal affairs council that if the refuse and meat in question had not been collected it was simply because that the Syndicate cleaning brigade, for lack of sufficient police protection, would have been molested by the strikers if it tried to do the work. They also stated that the City of Paris, in compliance with the agreement, should have warned the Syndicate by registered letter that the cleaning operation needed to be executed.
It appears that these arguments were good enough given that no further action ensued. But the issues arising from application of the collective bargaining agreement were a different kettle of fish.At the end of 1937 this is how the situation stood. In accordance with the decision made by the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union General Assembly and previously held meeting of the Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate Bureau, the employers condemned the collective bargaining agreement under discussion and made known their opinion to the Minister of Labor and President of the Conciliation Board. Being aware of this decision, the workers' organization asked the Minister of Labor to call a meeting of the Joint Commission to discuss the terms of a new agreement.
The salary issue was one of the touchiest problems pending settlement. The workers' representatives demanded a blanket raise of 20% for all categories of workers. However, as suggested by the President of the Departmental Conciliation Commission, the workers' representative issued a new proposal giving priority to the lowest paid workers. But the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union flatly refused any new hikes.
In these conditions, it was extremely difficult to come to an agreement. Speaking about the prevailing situation at the meeting held on 28 December 1937, the President of the Wholesalers' Syndicate stated the following:
"We will be obliged to call for arbitration and fear that, due to the rising cost of living, the arbitrators will opt for raising salaries. At any rate , we will make every attempt, backed by the appropriate supporting documentation, to enlighten their thinking in hopes of limiting the expected hikes as much as possible.
"In the documents presented we will make sure to point out that the cost of living index was 597 for the 4th quarter of 1930 and that today it has risen to 630, i.e., a jump of 5 %. Since June 1936, the workers have been granted two raises, one in June 1936 and the other in January 1937. This represents a hike of well over 20 %. Also we will point out that since the 1st of January family subsidies have been substantially increased […]. "
So it was no surprise that the points brought up subsequent to the report by Senator M. Maulion, with regard to the draft Law on regulation of the Paris Central Market did not receive much attention from the leaders of the Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate. The minutes of the meeting of 28 December 1937 contained only ten or so lines about this matter(35).
On the other hand, the report presented at the same time by Finance Inspector Mr. Ardant, to the National Economic Council, which adopted and published it on 6 February 1938, received closer attention on the part of the leaders of the Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate.
As Y. Fouéré explains, according to Mr. Ardent (36) that the cost of slaughtering was much higher in Paris than in the provinces. This was due to the greatly outdated installations and obsolete conditions of labor.
"In Paris the wholesale butchers have others accomplish several tasks that are never provided in the provinces such as grease removal on the outer part of the animal, use of pieces of wood and wires to pull out the carcass (37). "This is in confirmation to the observation already made", said Ardant, "in other words, the decreased professional capacity of the Paris traders who, gradually, are devoting the greater part of their job to retail trading. They do not have to actually work on the meat like their provincial colleagues. It is to this trend that the wholesalers owe their position gained on the Paris meat market […] "
In commenting the Ardant Report before the Council members, the Syndicate president declared:
" M. Ardant is forgetting just one thing, and that is the slaughtering restrictions stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement […] It calls for regulating the rate of slaughter by insinuating that the wholesale and retail organizations are attempting to modify habits as we know them today. He does not agree with doing away with the wholesalers. Rather, he suggests regulating the way they practice their profession. This would signify cutting back their numbers, appointment being subjected to proficiency tests, and setting a fixed duration required for practical training; as well as the obligation to personally handle slaughtering operations or else run the risk having scalding room rights retracted. In his eyes, the wholesalers constituted a monopoly, so he asked for the creation of municipal slaughtering brigades. […] "
All this hardly looked reassuring for the future of the corporation. The leaders of the wholesalers' Syndicate were thinking, more than anything else, about the best way to settle social issues.
Many events had occurred since the advent of Leon Blum's rise to power. Little by little, the Popular Front became fractionated. On 13 February 1937 Leon Blum officially announced a "pause" in social demands. This was seen as an avowal of impotence on the part of the government. According to François Goguel (38), "the government asked the legislative body to grant it the power to pass fiscal, economic and monetary laws making it possible to break capitalist resistance. The Radicals in the Senate decided to voice their opposition. Heeding the call of Joseph Caillaux, President of the Finance Commission the Upper House refused to grant Leon Blum the scope of powers he wanted […] "
Everyone knows what transpired. The Council President had to introduce a motion of confidence. Gaining a minority in the Senate, the Minister resigned on 21 June 1937. On the 22nd radical Camille Chautemps formed a new government (39). The economic situation saw no improvement. In the Fall, strikes spread and the minister was overthrown seven months later. On 18 January 1938, C. Chautemps constituted his fourth government, but he was forced to resign when Hitler proclaimed Anschluss. The very day after the annexation of Austria, on 13 March 1938, President Lebrun asked Leon Blum to return. This brief summary sufficiently demonstrates the gravity of the situation prevailing in the country.
To better understand the ensuing events that occurred at the slaughterhouse during the same period, once again we can quote Goguel:
"At the beginning of 1938, after the resignation of the socialist ministers, the new Chautemps government attempted to settle the issue up-to-dating labor laws through proper legislation. He proposed six draft proposals relative to hiring and firing, worker classification, collective bargaining, the definitive organization of conciliation and arbitration, strike regulations, and the statute of personnel delegates […]. The three first and last two points were not discussed..
"But with regard to arbitration the picture was different. Much experience had been acquired. Everyone agreed about the positive nature of the arbitration process. It was possible to strengthen it and also provide remedies to certain defects that had crept in since the beginning of 1937. This was the purpose of the law of 4 March 1938 which gave the arbitration of collective labor disputes a legal nature through setting up an Upper Court of Arbitration entrusted with handing down rulings issued by arbitrators. It stipulated the powers accorded to the arbitrators regarding to salary issues (40) […] ".
On 9 May 1938, Labor Minister Ramadier appointed Mr. Vignardou Inspector General of Veterinary and Sanitary Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, arbitrator for the labor disputes that had arisen between the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union and the General Slaughterhouse Workers Union and their counterparts in the Seine Department (41).
The arbitration ruling was handed down on 14 June 1938:
Whereas the labor arbitrator has ruled the application of a 20 % increase to the salary rates established by the arbitration of 22 January 1937,
Whereas, to justify this request the said arbitrator has recognized a raise corresponding to the official cost of living index for a worker family of four people between the 22nd of January 1937 and the 4th quarter of the same year.
Whereas this increase rose even more during 1938 and whereas it is right and just to take due account in evaluation worker claims.
Whereas the said statistical information is correct and that, as a result, the request can be taken into consideration.
Considering that this originates from the explanations provided by the employers as well as examination of the documents constituting the report, and that the concerned industries are in no position to finance the charges that would emanate from integral adaptation of salaries to the rate of increase indicated by the above-mentioned index,
Whereas, it is necessary to adapt the rate of salary to the new cost of living index within the limits of the financial capacities of the above-mentioned industries,
The following has been decided:
Starting 14 June 1938, as set by the arbitration ruling of 22 January 1937, salaries shall be increased according to the following terms:
0 % for salaries under 300 francs per week.
7 % for salaries between 300 and 350 francs per week.
5 % for salaries over 350 francs per week.
For heavy day laborers, 4 % for workers earning salaries above 100 francs, 8 % for workers with salaries less or equal to 100 francs. "
Paris, 14 June 1938 (42).
So what was the reaction of the different parties when this ruling was handed down? On the workers' side the least that could be said is that it was mixed. This can be detected by consulting two documents in the archives of the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union.
Both are from the General Slaughterhouse Workers' Syndicate of the Department and related organizations. The first one, signed by the General Secretary, Mr. Guyomard, is a tract that was probably distributed in the slaughterhouses as early as Monday, 20 June:
"Comrades, the union struggle, further to concerted movements, today sees its actions rewarded on the issue of salaries. This struggle was bitter, strenuous, and unduly prolonged by our class enemies who showed much acumen in attempting to retard the procedure. Of course they were favored in this respect by the series of governments that in no way represented the Popular Front of which, despite what our detractors say, we remain the driving force.
" We have no desire to be perceived as everlasting complainers, but we want it to be made clear that this ruling, to our eyes, is unacceptable by workers given the present cost of living coefficient and the index as it stood when our initial demand was lodged in June 1937. We promise to look closely at this situation and to see to what degree we are the losers, and subsequently make a new proposal."
The person who signed the tract cited the figures in the arbitration ruling:
" We ask our comrades not benefiting from these rises to inform the permanent representative so we can take action", added Secretary General Guyomard.
" For other matters", he concluded, "let us remain united in taking further action, a measure that appears to be increasingly necessary.
"Long live our Syndicate, Long live the CGT. "
The second document is not of the same nature as the first. It is characterized by a clearly political slant. Actually, it consists of a resolution voted by the General Assembly Meeting of the Syndicate :
" The Slaughterhouse Workers of La Villette, meeting on 16 June 1938 as permanent representation of the Syndicate,
" After hearing comrade Beaugrand, mandated by the Syndicate Council for editing the minutes of the arbitration ruling relative to salary raises,
" Accept the said ruling, but declare that the said raise in no way corresponds to the requirements of the workers.
" They demand with insistence immediate discussion in connection with the collective bargaining agreement and agree to closing ranks within the organization to support their claims against the war being waged by international fascism, against the bombing of women and children, of China and Spain, and for opening of the border with Republican Spain. (43). "
The leaders of the wholesale butchers' syndicate didn't hide their satisfaction with the ruling. The following lines extracted for the organization report of 1938 reads like this:
"If it were true", as Alexander Dumas says, "that it isn't as easy as they say to be impartial when you risk losing something, you wouldn't recognize the importance of the results we have achieved. However, we hope that, in contradiction to the imaginative spirit of Dumas so naturally prone to exaggeration, you will note that your Syndicate along with the partnership formed with the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union, served your interests very well (44). "
The beginning of 1938 was again beset with problems of a social order.. the administrative secretary of the wholesale butchers' syndicate said a few months later, "we had to rid ourselves of the aftermath of the workers movement that occurred in July and August 1937. Besides, we still had to contend with some other worker claims of considerable importance" :
"With regard to the first point, arbitration by Mr. Bagot, General Inspector of the Colonies, on 15 March put an end to the workers' demands. He considered that strikes constituted a breach of works contract. Mr. Bagot was of the opinion that the workers were not right to go on strike before completion of the conciliation and arbitration procedure. He concluded with an outright rejection of the workers' demands with regard to rules governing hiring and firing.
"The Labor Union obviously did not declare itself in accordance with this decision", added the wholesalers' syndicate secretary appearing before the High Court of Arbitration. With regard to the ruling, we have issued a report rejecting all the arguments deemed voluntarily erroneous by the labor organization. Further, he stated that this was a case unacceptable foreclosure. The Court upheld our argumentation. It decided that the deposition of the Labor Union against the Bagot ruling was unacceptable. So the intention this long drawn-out series of actions aiming at keeping consequences of the strike of July and August 1937 afloat, ended in the complete failure of the workers' movement (45). "
It can be easily seen that the tension existing between the employer and worker organizations was far from being diminished and that further events started to gain momentum.
Early in the month of April, Leon Blum handed in his resignation. The Popular Front had had its day. On 10 April 1938 Edouard Daladier constituted a third government. On the 12th, recall the authors of the "History of Contemporary France" He introduced his government to the Chamber. 130 000 wage earners were on strike. The economic and financial situation was gloomy and heavy storm clouds hovered over the international scene. (46).
The same day the Conciliation Board ended a disagreement between the Seine Slaughterhouse Workers Syndicate and the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union. The latter won the case. This ruling stated that the employers clearly had a definite right to recuperate public holidays.
These rulings put an end to the discussions that took place in 1937 between the worker organizations and the representatives of the Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate. But more problems were in the offing.
The biggest and most difficult task still ahead, if they were to properly defend their interests, was undoubtedly that which dealt with the new collective bargaining agreement, finally signed on 23 January 1939. More than thirty meetings held over eight months were required for this significant document to be produced(47). But soon, most social issues were to take second seat.
On the 29th and 30th of September 1938 the Munich agreement was signed forcing Czechoslovakia to hand over the Sudentenland to the 3rd Reich. In the long term, this only pushed Germany to pursue its expansionist policies.
"Later on, historians were to ask themselves, 'is it possible to understand the significance of the Munich accord other than an attempt to procure enough respite to allow France and Great Britain to sufficiently built up their respective military establishments? (48)
Apparently, the majority of people were not asking themselves this question when, on 1 October 1938, Daladier landed in Le Bourget airport.
Just in front of the slaughterhouse I witnessed the passage the person often referred to as the "Vaucluse bull" ( !). On that day, insofar as we can remember, workers, employers, all crowed in front of the gates, oblivious to all the social problems we have just spoken about in this chapter, together were applauding what they through were the dwindling perspectives of another war.
NOTES:
1 Cf. Procès-verbal de l'Assemblée Générale du syndicat du 16 mars/Minutes of the Syndicate General Meeting of 16 March 1936, p. 94.
2 Cf. Tacite, Annales, Livre I, 22. 1 : " Sedition is finding new leaders. One Vibulenus, a simple infantryman, enters the court of Blaesus, carried on the shoulders of the men surrounding him. In front of the crowd moved by expectation of what he was preparing to do, he shouted: " Doubtlessly you instilled in these innocent and unfortunate people light and breath; but who is going to bring my brother back to life? Who is going to bring my brother back to life > ? […], that man had my brother's throat slit last night by the gladiators who he supports and gives weapons to, so they can murder soldiers. I ask for 2 answers, Blaesus, tell me where you disposed of the corpse? " 23.1 : " And if they hadn't quickly discovered that no corpse had been found and that the slaves, subjected to torture, denied this murder and that the man never had any brother, they would have come very close to killing the legate "
3 The town tax, the slaughtering tax, the cost of transport, etc.
4 To be recalled is that this law, voted further to the Herriot-Tardieu report was intended above all, in the words of Yann Fouéré, " to upgrade the price of cattle at the production stage to allow breeders to earn a decent living. It also intended to foster higher meat consumption and in so doing subdue offer on the market" (Cf. Les marchés d'approvisionnement de la viande à Paris/Meat Supplies in Paris, Paris, Imprimerie française de Centralisation, 1939, pp. 258-267).
5 The already quoted François Goguel, says, " the laws and decrees negatively affected too many private interests so they were immediately doomed to public disapproval which increased every day as their ineffectiveness became more and more apparent. " (La Politique des partis sous la IIIe République/Party Politics under the 3rd Repbublic, p.342).
6 Cf. Rapport moral/Organization Report of 1936 made at the National Wholesale Butchers Federation convention on 18 September 1937, p. 6.
7 We can also quote Jean Lacouture who adds, after explaining the relative lack of preparation of the new leaders and the poor knowledge they had of the realities of the financial situation: "The Popular Front took over government responsibilities in an economic and financial climate altered by deflationary policies which caused general asphyxia of the country. " (Cf. J. Lacouture, Léon Blum, Paris, Seuil, 1977, p. 270).
8 Cf. F. Goguel, La politique des partis sous la IIIe République/Party Politics under the 3rd Republic, p. 342.
9 Ibid. p. 345.
10 Cf. Rapport moral de 1936 de la Fédération Nationale de la Boucherie en gros/Organization Report of the National Wholesale Butchers Federation, p. 6.
11 Ibid. p. 7.
12 Cf. M. Launay, Le Syndicalisme en Europe/Syndicalism in Europe, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1990, p. 296 : " The 1st of May 1936 occurred between the two rounds of elections […] To ritual which there is no denying, started to increasingly influence the celebration, was added a revolutionary climate. As usual, workers who failed to go the to factory or office in order to participate in May Day demonstrations, in many instances were fired with no further ado. […] " But this did not happen at the slaughterhouse (n.d.a.)
13 It was decided that if further to this strike a worker was fired, one of the Wholesale Syndicate vice-presidents would unofficially intervene in an attempt to get the employer to retract his decision. (Cf. Board Meeting Report of 2 June 1936, p. 209)
14 Until the time of its closure in 1974, the cattle market of La Villette was held every Monday and Thursday, legal holiday or not
15 According to F. Goguel, " Leon Blum said to the employer representatives that a substantial rise in salaries formed an essential part of the policies the government was seeking to implement. Unable to overcome their objections with regard to the rate applied, he imposed his own arbitration. This how the "Matignon Accord" came into being. It stipulated the terms and conditions applicable to a general increase in salaries from 7 to 15 %, the average being 12 %. " (Cf. La politique des partis sous la IIIe République/Party Politics under the 3rd Republic, p. 346)
16 Cf. M. Launay, Le Syndicalisme en Europe/Syndicalism in Europe, Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1990, p. 297-299.
17 Cf. Archives du Syndicat de la boucherie en gros, procès-verbal de la réunion du Conseil d'administration du 30 juin 1936,/Archives of the Wholesale Butchers Syndicate, Minutes of Board of Directors Meeting of 30 June 1936. Pp. 232-235.
18 Cf. Minutes of meeting of Saturday, 18 September 1937 of the National Wholesale Butchers Federation Congress, pp. 23-27 : " One must hope", said the President of the Small-Size Craftsmen's Chamber, "that in the future, small-size craftsmen will be consulted about the application of social legislation. It must be shown that Master Craftsmen who works with a few laborers cannot apply social legislation in the same way as large industrial entities without being negatively affected. Besides, between the craftsmen and workers of a given workshop or scalding room there is an affinity that rules out certain types of worker demand. For instance, for the 40-hour workweek, the proposed legislation could not be fully applied to the activities of small-size craftsmen. "
19 Artus began to collect all sorts of offals such as veal crows, heads, sweetbread, feet, glands, etc. This venerable company founded in the last century by M. C. Artus employed a substantial number of workers. It held a monopoly on scalding at La Villette. In 1894, Mr. Artus was president of the Paris Trip Merchant's Syndicate.
20 Cf. Report of the Extraordinary General Meeting of 18 January 1937 of the Wholesale Butcher's Syndicate, p.6.
21 Recalling these events, during the annual General Meeting of 25 May 1937, the president of the wholesale butchers' syndicate stated: "At our request, on Tuesday, 19 January you slaughtered the number of animals some of your customers needed In this way you demonstrated not only the craftsmanship nature of our corporation, but also that if you had to, it was possible to do the job without the intervention of any overly demanding collaborators. Obvious losers on this point, the workers' organization gave up and everyone went back to work on 20 January. " (Cf. Minutes of meeting, p. 123)
22 Cf. Archives of the Meat and Meat By-Product Union (report on revision of pay scales, pp.143-145)
23 42 nations were represented at the 1937 Fair. It included 11 000 exhibitors and registered 31 million visitors.
24 Cf. Minutes of the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation Congress, 20 September 1937, p. 91.
25 In 1936 the fee paid to the syndicate president was of 1500 francs per month. In 1937 this was increased to 2000 francs due to the new circumstances ( !).
26 Robert Lévy managed to obtain unanimous approval of the corporation through joining forces with Mr. Joubin who had created a dissident syndicate shortly after being obliged to quit his post. At the time of the events reported herein Mr. Joubin was President of the Federation of Slaughterhouse Products and related Activities Syndicate.
27 The pork meat corporation the one most affected by this movement. Ninety-eight % of the personnel was on strike. (Cf. Minutes of meeting of 30 July 1937, p. 231)
28 Ibid. p. 244.
29 Cf. Minutes of meeting of the Congress of the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation, pp. 50 and 52.
30 Article 66 published in the directory edited by the Paris Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate in 1954, (The General law of 27 June 1914 relative to surveillance of the Paris and Seine Department slaughterhouses, Chapter VI) read: " It is forbidden to employ adolescents under 17 years of age for slaughtering operations. Failure to comply will lead to prosecution according to the stipulations of the law of 2 November 1892. It is forbidden to employ children under 14 for other tasks in the slaughterhouse "
31 Cf . Minutes of meeting of the Congress of the National Wholesale Butchers' Federation, 19 September 1937, p. 55.
32 The headquarters of the Meat and Meat By-Product Union " were located at 28, avenue du Pont-de-Flandre, Paris, 19e.
33 Curiously, no information can be found in the archives of the Paris Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate with regard to the make up of the French Professional Syndicate. (author's note.)
34 The president inquired as to whether an amicable agreement with the French Professional Syndicate, in the event of arbitration with the CGT, wouldn't have led to a less stringent ruling as it would the consequence of immediate negotiations (Cf. Report of the Wholesalers' Syndicate board meeting, 12 November 1937, p. 272).
35 Débats parlementaires, J.O./Parliamentary Debates, Official Journal , 1, 3, 7, 8 et 24 December 1937 (Cf. Y. Fouéré, Les marchés d'approvisionnement de la viande à Paris/Meat Markets in Paris, Paris, Imprimerie Française de Centralisation, 1939, pp. 186-199)
36 Ibid. Y. Fouéré, pp. 79-83, 178-180 (Cf. Annexes au J.O., 6 February 1938/Appendices to Official Journal)
37 Mr. Ardant was alluding to what the traders at La Villette referred to as "commissioning ". In effect, they used pieces of wood, know as "shims" or "lice" ". On the other hand, they never used wire, only small hooks connected to strings.
38 Cf. F. Goguel, La politique des partis sous la IIIe République/Party Politics under the 3rd Republic, Paris, Seuil, 1958, pp. 520-521.
39 As mentioned in the le Dictionnaire des Ministres/Dictionary of Ministers by B. Yvert, the make up of the government was roughly similar to the previous one. Note that it was Leon Blum who stepped in as Vice President of the Council
40 Ibid. F. Goguel, pp. 394-395.
41 The headquarters of this Syndicate were located at: 67, rue de Turbigo (Annex of the Labor Exchange), Paris, (3e). This Syndicate had a permanent delegation at the La Villette slaughterhouse.
42 Cf. Archives de l'Union de la Viande et de ses Dérivés/Archives of the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union, (Dossier Rajustement des Salaires/Salary Levels document, p. 2)
43 Cf. Archives de l'Union de la Viande et de ses Dérivés/Archives of the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union, (Dossier Rajustement des Salaires/Salary Levels document , p. 7
44 Cf. Archives du Syndicat de la boucherie en gros, rapport moral/Archives of the Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate, organization report 1938, p.62.
45 Ibid, p. 59.
46 Cf. Histoire de la France contemporaine/History of Contemporary France, 1789-1980, Paris, Livre Diderot/Editions sociales,
47 The collective bargaining agreement for the Seine Slaughterhouse was signed by the Meat and Meat Derivatives Union whose headquarters were in Paris, 23, rue Notre-Dame des Victoires, 2e, acting on behalf of the workers of the Paris Wholesale Butchers' Syndicate, the Left Bank Slaughterhouse , the Paris and Seine Department Master Pork Slaughterers, the Hose Meat Butchers and Slaughterers, the Paris Slaughterhouse Meat Transport Agents, the Federation of Slaughterhouse Derivatives industry and connected industries, the Syndicated Chamber of sworn auctioneers La Villette Slaughterhouse, the Syndicated Chamber of the Auctioneers and Suppliers to the Vaugirard Slaughterhouse, on one hand, and the General Syndicate of the Seine Slaughterhouse Workers and related workers whose headquarters were at Paris, 28, rue du Pont de Flandre, 19e, represented by M. G. Bidet, General Secretary, H. Bourgeois, Secretary, P. Cadet, General Treasurer, G. Beaugrand, Technical Advisor, and M.C. Patat, representative of the Food Industry Workers Federation (C.G.T.), on the other hand, in the present of Mr. Bouy, Departmental Labor Inspector, representing the Ministry of Labor. (Cf. Archives of the Paris Wholesale Butchers" Syndicate).
48 Cf. P. Serryn, R. Blasselle, J. Boudet, Historical Atlas, Paris, Le Grand Livre du Mois/Ledger of the Month, 1980, p. 41.
By Pierre Haddad. Edited and adapted to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.
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