1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,074 Subtitles downloaded from www.OpenSubtitles.org 2 00:00:08,074 --> 00:00:12,101 BE SEEING YOU 3 00:00:21,788 --> 00:00:24,552 In Besançon, just before Christmas, 4 00:00:24,991 --> 00:00:27,653 at the gate of Rhodiacéta factory. 5 00:00:29,696 --> 00:00:31,664 Take five... 6 00:00:42,175 --> 00:00:45,975 Take five... Important news from Lyons. 7 00:00:50,817 --> 00:00:54,913 George Maurivard, called Yoyo, an active unionist, 8 00:00:55,088 --> 00:00:58,114 has news for the changing shift. 9 00:00:58,291 --> 00:01:00,885 News from Lyons and for tomorrow. 10 00:01:01,094 --> 00:01:03,619 Take five, mates, and get together. 11 00:01:06,399 --> 00:01:09,835 Take five and gather around the cars. 12 00:01:19,479 --> 00:01:22,471 92 lay-offs in Lyons. 13 00:01:23,216 --> 00:01:26,014 Have a five-minute break, mates. 14 00:01:29,089 --> 00:01:31,455 Rhodiacéta, a Rhône-Poulenc branch, 15 00:01:31,658 --> 00:01:34,627 hires 14 000 workers in Lyon- Vaise, 16 00:01:34,828 --> 00:01:37,991 Besançon and St Fons Belle Etoile. 17 00:01:38,865 --> 00:01:43,495 They are threatened by redundancies announced by Management 18 00:01:43,703 --> 00:01:47,366 who blame the Common Market for the loss 19 00:01:47,574 --> 00:01:51,533 of the monopoly of textile production processes. 20 00:01:51,744 --> 00:01:53,439 Come and form a group. 21 00:01:53,613 --> 00:01:58,710 Speaking of lay-offs here makes a vague threat more concrete. 22 00:01:58,918 --> 00:02:01,318 On this cold Christmas Eve, 23 00:02:01,488 --> 00:02:06,221 as the 4 around-the-clock shifts change-over, 24 00:02:06,426 --> 00:02:08,451 a meeting is improvised. 25 00:02:08,661 --> 00:02:11,653 Get closer so we don't have to shout. 26 00:02:15,902 --> 00:02:18,894 In Lyons, on 1 5th December, 27 00:02:19,272 --> 00:02:22,537 the comrades were given their payslips. 28 00:02:24,577 --> 00:02:28,536 On their payslips, there was nothing anymore. 29 00:02:29,149 --> 00:02:32,983 So the workers of the 4 shifts stopped work. 30 00:02:34,187 --> 00:02:37,418 Management forced a lock-out of the mill. 31 00:02:40,293 --> 00:02:42,591 There was a meeting 32 00:02:42,795 --> 00:02:46,561 between Management and the Unions 33 00:02:46,733 --> 00:02:48,997 on Saturday afternoon. 34 00:02:50,336 --> 00:02:53,328 They reached an agreement 35 00:02:53,540 --> 00:02:58,068 and decided to resume work on Monday 36 00:02:58,578 --> 00:03:00,546 with no sanctions. 37 00:03:01,614 --> 00:03:03,946 But on Monday morning, 38 00:03:04,951 --> 00:03:07,249 the comrades were refused jobs. 39 00:03:08,254 --> 00:03:12,020 CGT unionist G. Lièvremont is listening to Yoyo. 40 00:03:12,225 --> 00:03:14,455 He was on the stretching line 41 00:03:14,661 --> 00:03:19,394 but he now has higher responsibilities in the union. 42 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:22,591 He is a young shop steward 43 00:03:22,769 --> 00:03:27,103 elected by the workers during the 1 967 great strike. 44 00:03:27,307 --> 00:03:29,468 That is when we met him 45 00:03:29,676 --> 00:03:33,737 and Yoyo, then a young and active CFDT member 46 00:03:33,947 --> 00:03:37,974 who had made his first public address to his comrades. 47 00:03:39,252 --> 00:03:42,312 When did you step up for the first time? 48 00:03:42,488 --> 00:03:45,651 During a shift where no one else would do it 49 00:03:45,858 --> 00:03:48,850 and my mates dragged me onto the box 50 00:03:49,062 --> 00:03:51,087 and I just had to do it. 51 00:03:52,699 --> 00:03:54,997 Do you remember what you said? 52 00:03:55,635 --> 00:03:58,103 I remember it was very short 53 00:03:58,304 --> 00:04:02,570 as I was nervous, but apparently I was pretty good. 54 00:04:06,179 --> 00:04:08,545 I think you have to be brief. 55 00:04:10,583 --> 00:04:14,542 March 1967: the great strike, in Rhodia's terms. 56 00:04:15,688 --> 00:04:17,622 It was long: one full month, 57 00:04:17,824 --> 00:04:21,624 and original: a sit-in, disregarded since 1 936. 58 00:04:21,828 --> 00:04:23,557 It reformulated the idea 59 00:04:24,097 --> 00:04:28,625 that instability due to work causes disorder in your life. 60 00:04:28,835 --> 00:04:31,269 No pay rise could make up for it. 61 00:04:32,105 --> 00:04:34,699 They would not bargain, as in the US, 62 00:04:35,375 --> 00:04:39,709 for a so-called welfare society, a civilisation of leisure. 63 00:04:39,912 --> 00:04:43,905 Instead, they challenged that society and civilisation. 64 00:04:44,784 --> 00:04:46,809 The real result of that strike 65 00:04:47,020 --> 00:04:49,386 was not a 3 or 4% rise 66 00:04:49,756 --> 00:04:51,986 but the education of young workers 67 00:04:52,191 --> 00:04:56,753 discovering the true identity of their struggle. 68 00:04:57,063 --> 00:05:00,396 It was a decision by all the workers 69 00:05:00,633 --> 00:05:04,865 who chose to go on strike to stop unemployment. 70 00:05:05,872 --> 00:05:07,533 In those conditions, 71 00:05:08,608 --> 00:05:10,667 the guys got together 72 00:05:11,010 --> 00:05:14,673 and for the first time they had a community life 73 00:05:14,847 --> 00:05:17,281 for eight hours a day at least, 74 00:05:18,418 --> 00:05:21,910 in the restaurant and other places at the mill, 75 00:05:24,157 --> 00:05:26,387 which was a novelty for them. 76 00:05:27,927 --> 00:05:30,794 Then we really got to know one another. 77 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,093 They took up more important tasks 78 00:05:36,769 --> 00:05:39,329 as the strike went on : 79 00:05:39,539 --> 00:05:43,305 the Support Committee, the library, 80 00:05:43,576 --> 00:05:46,238 Ieading cultural debates. 81 00:05:46,479 --> 00:05:49,209 For us, culture is a struggle, a claim. 82 00:05:49,415 --> 00:05:52,475 Just as the right to have bread 83 00:05:52,652 --> 00:05:55,746 and lodgings, we claim access to culture. 84 00:05:55,955 --> 00:05:58,389 We lead the same fight for culture 85 00:05:58,591 --> 00:06:01,788 as for the union or in the political field. 86 00:06:01,994 --> 00:06:05,760 The Management often use the word culture. 87 00:06:05,932 --> 00:06:07,797 It's a rag-bag of a word. 88 00:06:07,967 --> 00:06:12,233 But they never say the word union or political party. 89 00:06:12,438 --> 00:06:15,134 Culture is for them, they have it, 90 00:06:15,341 --> 00:06:17,673 so they can talk about it. 91 00:06:17,977 --> 00:06:22,277 Then confidence grew among the lads. 92 00:06:23,049 --> 00:06:26,678 Here, for example, many thought the shop stewards 93 00:06:26,853 --> 00:06:28,616 were just big mouths. 94 00:06:28,821 --> 00:06:32,450 But then they saw that when problems appeared, 95 00:06:32,658 --> 00:06:34,250 we tried solutions together. 96 00:06:34,594 --> 00:06:37,222 - You met the communists? - I got to know them. 97 00:06:37,430 --> 00:06:39,421 What did you think of them? 98 00:06:39,632 --> 00:06:41,657 Well, I avoided them. 99 00:06:41,868 --> 00:06:46,100 And I got to know Cèbe, we lived together for a month, 100 00:06:46,639 --> 00:06:51,133 I'd go to his place and most of his mates were communists 101 00:06:51,344 --> 00:06:54,404 and I could debate with those guys. 102 00:06:55,815 --> 00:06:58,079 They looked like regular people, 103 00:06:58,251 --> 00:07:01,152 whereas before, I thought 104 00:07:01,354 --> 00:07:04,221 their faces marked them as communist. 105 00:07:04,424 --> 00:07:07,450 But I saw 30 or 40 of them, 106 00:07:09,295 --> 00:07:13,231 they all worked with us and fought 107 00:07:13,466 --> 00:07:16,833 in an intelligent way for peace 108 00:07:17,036 --> 00:07:17,695 and culture. 109 00:07:17,904 --> 00:07:21,032 Who were they? Commies! 110 00:07:22,108 --> 00:07:24,702 That's when you start thinking. 111 00:07:24,911 --> 00:07:29,610 - Where did that lead you? - To the Party, 6 months later. 112 00:07:31,250 --> 00:07:33,150 I used to see the communists 113 00:07:33,352 --> 00:07:34,979 as those not attending Mass. 114 00:07:35,188 --> 00:07:38,521 It was easy to work out. 115 00:07:38,691 --> 00:07:41,182 - So we were told. - It was simple. 116 00:07:41,394 --> 00:07:43,862 One thing that surprises me now, 117 00:07:44,330 --> 00:07:47,356 is that my father, who isn't stupid, 118 00:07:48,734 --> 00:07:51,669 always said good things about them. 119 00:07:51,871 --> 00:07:55,739 It's all coming back to me incidentally. 120 00:07:55,942 --> 00:07:57,967 He never defamed them 121 00:07:58,177 --> 00:08:01,874 and now I see they were as worthy as the others. 122 00:08:04,584 --> 00:08:06,415 I'm from the land, 123 00:08:06,619 --> 00:08:08,917 I mean the country. 124 00:08:09,088 --> 00:08:12,455 We've always had the principle in our family, 125 00:08:13,626 --> 00:08:16,652 of going to Mass, to Church. 126 00:08:17,029 --> 00:08:22,899 When I left my home and family, 127 00:08:23,102 --> 00:08:25,263 I did my national service 128 00:08:26,439 --> 00:08:29,374 and later I was hired at Rhodia 129 00:08:29,909 --> 00:08:32,878 and there I became aware of things 130 00:08:33,145 --> 00:08:35,978 I hadn't seen before. 131 00:08:36,182 --> 00:08:41,449 When you start working, the big theory goes like this: 132 00:08:42,788 --> 00:08:46,019 "Lucky to have bosses to give you a job." 133 00:08:46,225 --> 00:08:48,056 That's what you start with. 134 00:08:48,261 --> 00:08:50,695 "What would you do without them? " 135 00:08:53,432 --> 00:08:56,196 "It's cool, all these breaks! 136 00:08:57,136 --> 00:08:59,263 "Always complaining." 137 00:08:59,472 --> 00:09:03,067 "Without the bosses, what would we do? " 138 00:09:03,276 --> 00:09:07,110 We enter the working world with that idea. 139 00:09:07,513 --> 00:09:11,506 2 weeks after I joined the company, a strike broke out. 140 00:09:11,717 --> 00:09:14,208 I didn't even know what a strike was. 141 00:09:15,454 --> 00:09:18,821 I stopped work. 142 00:09:20,026 --> 00:09:23,587 I asked you: "Can I strike? " 143 00:09:23,796 --> 00:09:26,264 All were on strike so I stopped too 144 00:09:26,465 --> 00:09:28,695 and I didn't even know why. 145 00:09:30,469 --> 00:09:32,994 I had had a clash with the union. 146 00:09:33,172 --> 00:09:37,268 Not the CFDT, but the CGT. I worked in Sochaux 147 00:09:38,077 --> 00:09:41,410 and I didn't want to hear about them anymore. 148 00:09:41,614 --> 00:09:44,014 There were strikes I didn't even join. 149 00:09:46,852 --> 00:09:51,186 Then with the great strike, it clicked. 150 00:09:52,191 --> 00:09:53,590 STUDENT SUPPORT 151 00:09:54,860 --> 00:09:58,990 On the 1 9th day, I went to Sochaux to collect funds, 152 00:09:59,198 --> 00:10:01,530 where I worked before, at Peugeot. 153 00:10:01,734 --> 00:10:06,330 The guys said: "Keep it up, don't let them get you!". 154 00:10:06,672 --> 00:10:09,766 They'd been through it before 155 00:10:09,976 --> 00:10:11,944 and had lost the battle, 156 00:10:12,144 --> 00:10:15,511 so they didn't want us to fail, we had to win. 157 00:10:17,583 --> 00:10:21,542 Since I've been at Rhodia, I've been impressed 158 00:10:21,754 --> 00:10:23,517 by those who spoke out. 159 00:10:23,689 --> 00:10:26,351 The guys getting up on a box to talk. 160 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,689 I was very impressed because, as a country boy, 161 00:10:31,263 --> 00:10:33,663 I'd never seen someone addressing a crowd 162 00:10:33,866 --> 00:10:38,030 and be capable of holding their attention. 163 00:10:40,339 --> 00:10:45,140 Maybe it was Yoyo or Castella or someone, whoever. 164 00:10:45,344 --> 00:10:48,939 So as soon as I could talk to those people, 165 00:10:49,148 --> 00:10:50,775 I took a chance. 166 00:10:50,983 --> 00:10:54,919 The first reason is personal. 167 00:10:55,087 --> 00:10:59,456 I knew only one thing: by talking to those guys, 168 00:10:59,659 --> 00:11:02,219 I had a chance to learn something. 169 00:11:02,428 --> 00:11:04,828 I saw how different those guys were 170 00:11:05,031 --> 00:11:07,295 from the ones working in my shop. 171 00:11:07,500 --> 00:11:10,799 I knew that by mixing with them, I would gain something. 172 00:11:10,970 --> 00:11:12,267 Self-interested! 173 00:11:12,471 --> 00:11:15,065 Yes, in that sense, I was. 174 00:11:15,274 --> 00:11:19,768 The first reason was personal, to gain personally. 175 00:11:20,746 --> 00:11:24,147 So I was really impressed in March, 176 00:11:24,850 --> 00:11:26,715 when everybody was outside 177 00:11:26,919 --> 00:11:29,444 and the mill was at a standstill, 178 00:11:29,655 --> 00:11:32,749 the bosses couldn't get in. A great victory. 179 00:11:32,958 --> 00:11:35,256 I didn't think it was possible 180 00:11:35,661 --> 00:11:38,255 for us to paralyse a factory 181 00:11:38,464 --> 00:11:39,829 as we did then. 182 00:11:40,599 --> 00:11:42,794 We did odd tasks, stuck posters 183 00:11:44,036 --> 00:11:48,132 and wrote messages on walls. Things we had to do 184 00:11:48,374 --> 00:11:50,035 or forbidden ones. 185 00:11:53,145 --> 00:11:57,172 We could go in freely! And eat when we wanted to. 186 00:11:57,383 --> 00:12:02,320 It was cool. A movie every night, it was just wonderful. 187 00:12:03,289 --> 00:12:05,154 You hoped it would last? 188 00:12:05,357 --> 00:12:09,623 I didn't think it would, but still, what was wonderful 189 00:12:09,829 --> 00:12:11,160 was the spirit there. 190 00:12:11,330 --> 00:12:15,528 We were all full of pep, especially at the beginning... 191 00:12:15,735 --> 00:12:20,104 Well, those who were not there we just didn't see them. 192 00:12:20,539 --> 00:12:23,440 It was great, a film every evening. 193 00:12:23,609 --> 00:12:27,773 Some evenings, people were dancing. Just great! 194 00:12:30,416 --> 00:12:33,010 I regretted we had to resume work, 195 00:12:33,219 --> 00:12:35,779 having won so little. 196 00:12:35,988 --> 00:12:39,651 Now I realise it may not have been a great victory. 197 00:12:39,859 --> 00:12:41,053 It was a step... 198 00:12:42,728 --> 00:12:46,562 Because a single battle doesn't mean you've won 199 00:12:47,233 --> 00:12:48,097 the war. 200 00:12:48,300 --> 00:12:51,326 Instead, you win it 201 00:12:51,537 --> 00:12:55,064 with a struggle, I mean a long-term struggle, 202 00:12:55,274 --> 00:12:57,742 a struggle which may last long. 203 00:12:57,943 --> 00:13:02,676 You must always fight, not only make a single brilliant move. 204 00:13:02,848 --> 00:13:06,511 Such a move gets you short-lived attention. 205 00:13:06,719 --> 00:13:10,712 But I think that by fighting 206 00:13:11,223 --> 00:13:13,123 and by trying to... 207 00:13:13,292 --> 00:13:15,783 to know as many things as possible 208 00:13:16,796 --> 00:13:20,357 to be as many as possible, we'll get somewhere. 209 00:13:21,767 --> 00:13:25,703 G. Lièvremont also went from instinctive to organised action. 210 00:13:25,905 --> 00:13:27,668 Why am I an active unionist? 211 00:13:28,607 --> 00:13:29,767 At 1 4, 212 00:13:30,743 --> 00:13:32,768 I started to work in a mill, 213 00:13:32,978 --> 00:13:35,811 I earned 48.50 francs per hour. 214 00:13:36,115 --> 00:13:38,310 I walked to work. 215 00:13:38,517 --> 00:13:40,781 My boss was 40. 216 00:13:40,986 --> 00:13:43,819 I had to work 8 hours a day 217 00:13:44,023 --> 00:13:45,820 and I had to walk 218 00:13:46,025 --> 00:13:48,585 whereas he drove a huge car. 219 00:13:48,794 --> 00:13:50,819 He was strong and healthy. 220 00:13:51,697 --> 00:13:54,791 It was unfair and problems had to be solved, 221 00:13:54,967 --> 00:13:57,231 things had to change. 222 00:13:57,436 --> 00:13:59,802 So, in the beginning, I said: 223 00:13:59,972 --> 00:14:02,372 "Let's kill him and take his place". 224 00:14:02,808 --> 00:14:04,503 But I didn't do it. 225 00:14:04,710 --> 00:14:07,440 Then I met a second worker. 226 00:14:07,613 --> 00:14:10,548 Then there were three of us, then four. 227 00:14:10,783 --> 00:14:14,116 Then one day, it was in 1 956, 228 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,385 we went on strike. 229 00:14:18,657 --> 00:14:19,954 It wasn't easy. 230 00:14:20,159 --> 00:14:23,060 There was no union, we knew nothing 231 00:14:23,262 --> 00:14:26,060 but we wanted to fight the boss. 232 00:14:26,465 --> 00:14:29,298 A trade-union representative came 233 00:14:29,501 --> 00:14:32,129 and gave us advice and helped us. 234 00:14:33,305 --> 00:14:35,102 Then the strike ended. 235 00:14:35,307 --> 00:14:38,970 I can't remember if we won anything or not. 236 00:14:40,112 --> 00:14:42,080 But I was committed. 237 00:14:42,248 --> 00:14:45,706 Although we may have won 1 0 francs then, 238 00:14:45,918 --> 00:14:48,751 the gap was still wide to fill. 239 00:14:48,954 --> 00:14:50,216 It still is today. 240 00:14:51,590 --> 00:14:55,424 - All I can say... - You earn less than before. 241 00:14:56,195 --> 00:14:59,358 They rip me off for 68 000 francs. 242 00:14:59,632 --> 00:15:01,190 That's theft, it is. 243 00:15:01,367 --> 00:15:03,232 - A maze. - Precisely. 244 00:15:03,435 --> 00:15:07,735 Where is the rip-off, is it in the total? 245 00:15:11,176 --> 00:15:12,268 It's simple. 246 00:15:12,478 --> 00:15:14,537 You have an incentive bonus 247 00:15:14,747 --> 00:15:18,547 which was 1 9.5% until 5th December. 248 00:15:19,318 --> 00:15:24,187 The 1 9.5 was calculated on the past six months pay. 249 00:15:26,959 --> 00:15:30,793 A guy who had earned 600 000 francs in six months 250 00:15:30,996 --> 00:15:33,487 was granted in December 251 00:15:33,699 --> 00:15:37,601 a 1 9.5 % bonus on top of his pay. 252 00:15:38,103 --> 00:15:40,298 Then, changes were made 253 00:15:40,506 --> 00:15:43,304 and the bonus dropped to only 9,5%. 254 00:15:43,542 --> 00:15:45,703 Half the expected rate. 255 00:15:45,911 --> 00:15:48,277 Lay-offs are more threatening. 256 00:15:48,714 --> 00:15:53,151 This is the news in December 1 967 for Rhodia's workers. 257 00:15:53,519 --> 00:15:55,578 Other factors are permanent: 258 00:15:55,788 --> 00:15:59,019 the much discussed four 8-hour shifts 259 00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:02,553 which cause in the workers' daily life 260 00:16:02,728 --> 00:16:05,629 troubles that go beyond discomfort. 261 00:16:05,831 --> 00:16:08,493 I work the four 8-hour shifts. 262 00:16:09,134 --> 00:16:11,261 It's a 7-day week. 263 00:16:11,470 --> 00:16:14,735 I'll take this week, it'll be clearer. 264 00:16:14,940 --> 00:16:16,771 It's quite complicated. 265 00:16:16,976 --> 00:16:20,343 So, I worked Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, 266 00:16:20,546 --> 00:16:22,514 Thursday and Friday afternoons 267 00:16:22,715 --> 00:16:25,912 and Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights. 268 00:16:26,118 --> 00:16:30,054 You see, I work two days and three nights. 269 00:16:30,556 --> 00:16:35,016 To cover the whole week, I work seven days in a row. 270 00:16:36,695 --> 00:16:41,496 When I work nights, I get home at 4.30 and she leaves at 6.30. 271 00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:45,295 I see her when she wakes me up, I'm bad-tempered. 272 00:16:45,504 --> 00:16:49,304 It's like that when you've slept badly, 273 00:16:49,708 --> 00:16:50,834 you feel awful. 274 00:16:51,010 --> 00:16:54,639 She gets home at 6.30 p.m. and I leave at 7.20. 275 00:16:54,813 --> 00:16:57,145 She has to fix dinner, 276 00:16:57,349 --> 00:17:00,216 we eat in a hurry and then I'm off. 277 00:17:01,420 --> 00:17:03,786 Same thing when I work afternoons. 278 00:17:03,989 --> 00:17:06,219 I'm home when she needs sleep. 279 00:17:06,425 --> 00:17:09,588 We eat, she goes to bed, she's tired. 280 00:17:10,295 --> 00:17:12,786 So we hardly see each other. 281 00:17:15,034 --> 00:17:17,502 Then, the kid on top of it. 282 00:17:17,703 --> 00:17:22,936 Well, I guess she's worse off than me. 283 00:17:23,142 --> 00:17:27,135 She takes her with her in the morning, because I can't. 284 00:17:27,346 --> 00:17:31,749 When she leaves for work, she takes her to the baby-sitter. 285 00:17:31,950 --> 00:17:34,316 Then at noon, she picks her up. 286 00:17:35,421 --> 00:17:39,790 Then she takes her back at 1.30 and resumes work at 2.00. 287 00:17:40,225 --> 00:17:44,855 She picks her up at 1.30. She goes up for 1 5 minutes. 288 00:17:45,064 --> 00:17:48,522 What can she do during that time? 289 00:17:53,772 --> 00:17:56,332 We have no family life. 290 00:17:57,009 --> 00:18:00,911 A woman could hope for a better life, I think. 291 00:18:02,781 --> 00:18:05,614 I'll tell you about a mate of mine. 292 00:18:06,151 --> 00:18:10,349 His wife had a nervous breakdown 293 00:18:11,356 --> 00:18:15,292 and now she's OK but they're having a divorce, 294 00:18:15,994 --> 00:18:18,485 the case is in process. 295 00:18:19,698 --> 00:18:22,189 Things went wrong. 296 00:18:22,367 --> 00:18:25,598 He put up with her while she was ill, 297 00:18:25,771 --> 00:18:27,671 he exhausted himself. 298 00:18:27,873 --> 00:18:31,365 Now that she's OK, he wants to pick himself up 299 00:18:31,577 --> 00:18:35,536 but they're getting a divorce, the case is pending. 300 00:18:39,318 --> 00:18:43,152 It's because his wife had a nervous breakdown. 301 00:18:45,624 --> 00:18:49,082 You see, the guy is already worn out 302 00:18:49,294 --> 00:18:53,162 due to work and his wife's illness. He's flat out. 303 00:18:53,332 --> 00:18:56,301 They have no other way out. 304 00:18:56,502 --> 00:18:58,436 They don't get on anymore. 305 00:19:06,745 --> 00:19:10,977 And it's true that when she talks about her job, 306 00:19:12,918 --> 00:19:14,818 it upsets me, you see. 307 00:19:15,020 --> 00:19:20,151 I can't be bothered. I'm fed up with talking about this job. 308 00:19:23,929 --> 00:19:26,693 Our work isn't useful. 309 00:19:26,899 --> 00:19:30,266 For us, it just brings in a pay, 310 00:19:30,469 --> 00:19:34,838 but the job is meaningless. We're working for nothing. 311 00:19:35,374 --> 00:19:38,104 Working for someone else is no fun. 312 00:19:40,913 --> 00:19:45,145 We're driven by the machine, always the same movements. 313 00:19:45,350 --> 00:19:49,377 There's nothing of interest in the job. 314 00:19:49,588 --> 00:19:54,548 I start at 8.00. At 8.10, I'm already looking at my watch. 315 00:19:55,661 --> 00:20:00,030 I'm bored. We have lost our spirit, we're just bored. 316 00:20:17,950 --> 00:20:21,386 I wonder if it's like that in other companies 317 00:20:21,587 --> 00:20:23,987 when a couple works daytime. 318 00:20:24,189 --> 00:20:27,989 They must also be worn out. 319 00:20:30,596 --> 00:20:33,793 A woman's role is really no fun here. 320 00:20:33,999 --> 00:20:36,797 She's got no leisure, 321 00:20:36,969 --> 00:20:41,531 only work. I try to help but there are things I can't do. 322 00:20:43,742 --> 00:20:46,768 In the morning, she starts at 6.30. 323 00:20:46,979 --> 00:20:50,278 She gets up at 6.30 and she leaves at 7.30. 324 00:20:50,449 --> 00:20:52,747 She's home at 1 2 and goes shopping, 325 00:20:52,951 --> 00:20:55,351 she comes back, prepares lunch, 326 00:20:55,554 --> 00:20:58,546 we eat in no time, she washes up, 327 00:20:58,757 --> 00:21:01,225 drops the kid and back to work. 328 00:21:01,426 --> 00:21:04,224 And in the evening, it's the same. 329 00:21:04,429 --> 00:21:06,954 If I work nights, it's a rush. 330 00:21:07,266 --> 00:21:11,396 If I'm not, she does the washing and ironing. 331 00:21:11,737 --> 00:21:14,205 It goes on for days on end. 332 00:21:26,818 --> 00:21:30,117 We arrive every morning, knowing where to go, 333 00:21:30,289 --> 00:21:32,587 which mill we'll be at. 334 00:21:33,592 --> 00:21:37,255 We get there, there's a clock like that, 335 00:21:37,863 --> 00:21:39,387 showing the minutes. 336 00:21:39,598 --> 00:21:42,897 There are changes every 30 minutes, 20 minutes, 337 00:21:43,101 --> 00:21:47,697 every 45 minutes and every 36 minutes. 338 00:21:48,307 --> 00:21:50,707 So we never stop. 339 00:21:50,909 --> 00:21:54,902 When the hand reaches 60, we start a new spool. 340 00:21:55,113 --> 00:21:58,105 We remove the spool which weighs 20-22 kg, 341 00:21:58,317 --> 00:22:00,615 put it on a trolley behind us, 342 00:22:00,819 --> 00:22:02,582 we remove the fluff, 343 00:22:02,788 --> 00:22:05,416 cut the thread and we label it. 344 00:22:05,624 --> 00:22:09,253 There's only one minute between spools. 345 00:22:09,594 --> 00:22:12,495 Then we move one, then we move another. 346 00:22:12,698 --> 00:22:14,825 We do 20 spools like that. 347 00:22:15,300 --> 00:22:17,928 It takes 20 minutes for 20 spools. 348 00:22:18,136 --> 00:22:21,230 We remove the fluff and label each one 349 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,274 and clean the mill, so the 30 or 36 minutes fly by. 350 00:22:25,477 --> 00:22:28,913 We must start again all the time, for 8 hours. 351 00:22:30,582 --> 00:22:32,413 They have several tricks. 352 00:22:32,617 --> 00:22:35,017 One of the latest is automation. 353 00:22:35,487 --> 00:22:38,615 We call it speeding things up. 354 00:22:38,824 --> 00:22:41,122 2 years ago, at the stretching section, 355 00:22:41,293 --> 00:22:42,954 I did 1 88 cops. 356 00:22:43,495 --> 00:22:45,360 Today, I did 244. 357 00:22:46,264 --> 00:22:47,993 They ask us to collaborate. 358 00:22:48,333 --> 00:22:51,734 They say: "Let's come to an agreement 359 00:22:51,937 --> 00:22:55,100 "and we'll reorganise the work. 360 00:22:55,307 --> 00:22:58,333 "We'll give 2/1 00th of a second for a job." 361 00:22:58,543 --> 00:23:02,274 2/1 00th on top of the 2 seconds we already had. 362 00:23:02,447 --> 00:23:05,883 Double time. But as we need 6, we've lost 2. 363 00:23:07,119 --> 00:23:09,212 Usually, you eat when you're hungry. 364 00:23:09,454 --> 00:23:11,854 At Rhodia, it's not necessarily so. 365 00:23:12,057 --> 00:23:14,753 You eat when the electronic brain says 366 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:18,794 we must eat because there's a lull in production. 367 00:23:18,997 --> 00:23:21,898 We eat when that brain decides we have to. 368 00:23:22,100 --> 00:23:24,660 Always the same movements, 369 00:23:25,670 --> 00:23:28,434 the same machines, the same work. 370 00:23:29,074 --> 00:23:32,908 I feel it's always the same film, the same record. 371 00:23:33,412 --> 00:23:37,280 I'd like to talk to someone who finds an interest 372 00:23:37,449 --> 00:23:39,576 in doing that gesture 373 00:23:41,453 --> 00:23:43,182 244 times a day 374 00:23:44,456 --> 00:23:49,223 and that other gesture 244 times a day. 375 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:55,661 We remove the top spool, we have a small brush, 376 00:23:55,867 --> 00:23:59,997 we take the thread with it and put it on the lower spool. 377 00:24:01,039 --> 00:24:04,304 then we lift the spool and put it away. 378 00:24:05,343 --> 00:24:08,039 - All day long? - All day like that. 379 00:24:09,748 --> 00:24:13,081 - You're working the shifts? - Yes, I always have. 380 00:24:15,420 --> 00:24:17,513 You like it better? 381 00:24:18,223 --> 00:24:21,522 I did, at the start. Now it's getting hard. 382 00:24:21,693 --> 00:24:24,958 Morning, afternoon or night, I'm worn out. 383 00:24:25,130 --> 00:24:27,428 I get home, I go to bed. 384 00:24:28,099 --> 00:24:31,398 We can do it for 5 years and then it's hard. 385 00:24:31,670 --> 00:24:33,831 Then when I get home, 386 00:24:34,039 --> 00:24:37,440 I fall asleep at the table. I'm wrung out. 387 00:24:37,609 --> 00:24:40,339 - How old are you? - 38. 388 00:24:45,116 --> 00:24:48,142 Do you need to sleep during the day? 389 00:24:48,353 --> 00:24:50,583 - All the time. - When I get home, 390 00:24:50,789 --> 00:24:53,019 If I work from 3 a.m. till 12, 391 00:24:53,225 --> 00:24:56,092 I'm here at 1 2.20 and by 1.00 I'm in bed. 392 00:24:56,294 --> 00:24:58,785 I sleep a bit until 3 or 4 p.m. 393 00:24:58,997 --> 00:25:02,933 When the weather is lousy, I stay in bed until 5 p.m. 394 00:25:04,636 --> 00:25:08,299 I go to bed early because I must get up at 3 a.m. 395 00:25:09,474 --> 00:25:13,672 - Do you manage to rest? - Not really. I can't rest. 396 00:25:13,912 --> 00:25:17,905 When I wake up, I feel awful and I've got a headache. 397 00:25:18,350 --> 00:25:21,979 I'm spaced out, knocked out. 398 00:25:23,788 --> 00:25:26,780 In the beginning, it was all right. 399 00:25:26,992 --> 00:25:31,224 Now I get upset for no reason. The noise makes me grumpy. 400 00:25:32,197 --> 00:25:35,291 - There is noise. - It's nothing now. 401 00:25:35,567 --> 00:25:38,001 Nothing at all now. 402 00:25:38,970 --> 00:25:41,530 - Like that all day long. - Is it? 403 00:25:41,740 --> 00:25:43,367 Yes, it's always like that. 404 00:25:43,575 --> 00:25:46,669 From 6 a.m. till 1 0 p.m. 405 00:25:47,112 --> 00:25:50,309 In winter till 10 p.m. otherwise, till 1 a.m. 406 00:25:50,615 --> 00:25:54,551 Tell me, what do you do in your free time? 407 00:25:55,320 --> 00:25:57,982 In winter, I can't do much, 408 00:25:59,858 --> 00:26:03,055 I do odd jobs, I washed the kitchen walls. 409 00:26:04,796 --> 00:26:07,856 And in summer I go fishing. 410 00:26:08,099 --> 00:26:10,897 - Where? - I go fishing. 411 00:26:11,903 --> 00:26:13,871 I pick mushrooms. 412 00:26:14,739 --> 00:26:16,366 Lilies of the valley. 413 00:26:18,577 --> 00:26:21,273 The fresh air does me good. 414 00:26:24,149 --> 00:26:26,140 - Do you have a car? - No. 415 00:26:27,552 --> 00:26:30,953 - Why not? - It's too expensive. 416 00:26:31,289 --> 00:26:35,817 You must get a licence. Some friends have failed 6 times, 417 00:26:36,027 --> 00:26:38,427 So they've given up. 418 00:26:39,431 --> 00:26:41,695 One sat for the Highway code, 419 00:26:41,933 --> 00:26:48,031 Failed. He failed the driving test too. There's always something wrong. 420 00:26:48,673 --> 00:26:50,504 It's his 6th time. 421 00:26:51,910 --> 00:26:54,037 But his wife passed first go! 422 00:26:54,279 --> 00:26:56,304 - She works at Rhodia? - No. 423 00:26:57,115 --> 00:27:00,175 They have a car but the wife drives it. 424 00:27:01,519 --> 00:27:03,919 - It's embarrassing. - Why? 425 00:27:05,190 --> 00:27:06,953 A woman driving the car... 426 00:27:07,192 --> 00:27:09,456 Don't women drive better? 427 00:27:09,694 --> 00:27:12,288 - I'm not sure. - They do. 428 00:27:13,431 --> 00:27:15,422 - They're better at it. - I don't know. 429 00:27:15,867 --> 00:27:18,028 Does he complain? 430 00:27:18,670 --> 00:27:20,797 No, she drives well. 431 00:27:21,039 --> 00:27:24,236 I've been in the car with her before. 432 00:27:25,510 --> 00:27:27,569 She'd like to try the test. 433 00:27:28,013 --> 00:27:30,413 - He won't let me. - Why not? 434 00:27:30,949 --> 00:27:33,474 We barely make ends meet. 435 00:27:33,718 --> 00:27:35,982 I could try but he won't let me. 436 00:27:36,655 --> 00:27:39,749 Having a car is so expensive. 437 00:27:40,358 --> 00:27:42,553 Registration, petrol, repairs... 438 00:27:42,827 --> 00:27:45,295 Then men would rely too much on their wives. 439 00:27:47,666 --> 00:27:51,124 - What do you make of that? - It's true. 440 00:27:53,571 --> 00:27:57,132 Would it hurt his pride if you could drive? 441 00:27:57,375 --> 00:27:59,866 It'd hurt his male self-esteem. 442 00:28:04,416 --> 00:28:05,974 We all have a moped. 443 00:28:06,217 --> 00:28:09,050 - So the women... - They use the moped. 444 00:28:09,487 --> 00:28:12,615 It's handy in the summer. It's better. 445 00:28:14,592 --> 00:28:17,823 We go fishing together, on the river. 446 00:28:19,731 --> 00:28:22,666 - We take the kids. - And a book. 447 00:28:28,039 --> 00:28:29,028 The open air... 448 00:28:29,674 --> 00:28:31,437 Fishing, hunting, 449 00:28:32,610 --> 00:28:36,068 picking mushrooms, snails... 450 00:28:36,314 --> 00:28:37,542 The open air. 451 00:28:37,782 --> 00:28:39,909 We really need it. 452 00:28:43,021 --> 00:28:47,822 This is where we really feel good. 453 00:28:48,626 --> 00:28:52,187 Because even when we go out to see a good show, 454 00:28:53,031 --> 00:28:56,592 we always feel closed-in. 455 00:28:59,537 --> 00:29:04,372 Even a nice show, we're glad at the end because we're fed up 456 00:29:04,609 --> 00:29:06,577 with being indoors. 457 00:29:07,579 --> 00:29:09,911 Whereas outdoors, we're more alive. 458 00:29:12,050 --> 00:29:15,816 What's the most tiring, the repetitive movements? 459 00:29:16,020 --> 00:29:18,352 No, it's being on your feet. 460 00:29:18,556 --> 00:29:22,287 We stand up all day, it's forbidden to lean on... 461 00:29:22,494 --> 00:29:27,591 We have waste bins behind us and it's forbidden to lean on them. 462 00:29:28,032 --> 00:29:29,465 We do it though, 463 00:29:29,667 --> 00:29:33,103 but if we're caught... It depends on the foremen. 464 00:29:34,973 --> 00:29:38,909 - Would leaning slow productivity? - No! 465 00:29:39,110 --> 00:29:42,602 But we have to stay in front of the machines. 466 00:29:44,616 --> 00:29:46,880 Always on the move, so... 467 00:29:47,051 --> 00:29:49,576 He's at Rhodia too. 468 00:29:50,755 --> 00:29:52,586 Have a seat. 469 00:29:54,692 --> 00:29:57,160 He's off work, on sick leave. 470 00:29:57,695 --> 00:29:59,788 - You're at the mill? - Sorry? 471 00:29:59,998 --> 00:30:04,230 - Where do you work? - At the finishing section. 472 00:30:06,905 --> 00:30:09,135 - You work the shifts? - Yes. 473 00:30:09,340 --> 00:30:11,831 - Since how long? - 1 1 years. 474 00:30:12,010 --> 00:30:14,308 - Nearly 1 2. - How old are you? 475 00:30:14,512 --> 00:30:15,536 39. 476 00:30:15,780 --> 00:30:18,544 Do you listen to d'Astier sometimes? 477 00:30:19,050 --> 00:30:20,540 Oh yes! 478 00:30:20,785 --> 00:30:24,152 At the moment, in Besançon, 479 00:30:24,823 --> 00:30:26,757 in Vaise and other places, 480 00:30:27,892 --> 00:30:29,416 a long strike is on. 481 00:30:29,694 --> 00:30:32,390 In Besançon, it's been on for 17 days. 482 00:30:33,231 --> 00:30:37,292 It's a conflict between an overbearing management, 483 00:30:37,535 --> 00:30:38,502 it's unbearable, 484 00:30:38,736 --> 00:30:41,637 and the working class, far from politics. 485 00:30:41,940 --> 00:30:46,172 He makes some sharp comments. 486 00:30:47,812 --> 00:30:50,610 There is truth in what he says. 487 00:30:50,849 --> 00:30:53,215 For me, he speaks frankly. 488 00:30:55,653 --> 00:30:58,349 - You feel he's sincere? - That's what I think. 489 00:30:59,090 --> 00:31:00,853 He's not afraid to speak up. 490 00:31:01,092 --> 00:31:02,559 He speaks his mind. 491 00:31:03,895 --> 00:31:06,796 He spoke well of the guys at Rhodia. 492 00:31:08,533 --> 00:31:10,694 With all he said... 493 00:31:11,502 --> 00:31:14,232 We watch d'Astier de la Vigerie, don't we? 494 00:31:14,505 --> 00:31:16,370 - You like him too? - Oh yes! 495 00:31:17,408 --> 00:31:20,070 I like him. He speaks well. 496 00:31:20,712 --> 00:31:22,145 He speaks his mind. 497 00:31:22,714 --> 00:31:25,342 Communism is the only organised force in France, 498 00:31:25,583 --> 00:31:29,417 except for the De Gaulle phenomenon. 499 00:31:30,221 --> 00:31:31,313 What is it? 500 00:31:31,556 --> 00:31:35,993 A hope for a major part of the working class. 501 00:31:36,394 --> 00:31:39,022 And a refuge for dissatisfied people. 502 00:31:39,264 --> 00:31:41,562 But one thing must be pointed out: 503 00:31:41,799 --> 00:31:44,996 communism is much stronger 504 00:31:45,270 --> 00:31:50,367 as a sting on the rump of the capitalist ox 505 00:31:50,875 --> 00:31:52,536 than as an ideology. 506 00:31:53,077 --> 00:31:56,535 He's neither for the government nor... 507 00:31:57,515 --> 00:32:01,076 He is, but he's not really for De Gaulle. 508 00:32:02,053 --> 00:32:04,783 He says what he thinks. 509 00:32:05,023 --> 00:32:07,150 He's for De Gaulle but he's not a Gaullist. 510 00:32:07,392 --> 00:32:11,192 Did they mention the Rhodia strike on TV? 511 00:32:11,863 --> 00:32:14,991 Very briefly. What did they say? 512 00:32:15,233 --> 00:32:17,258 Something upset me. 513 00:32:17,869 --> 00:32:20,201 When we marched in the streets, 514 00:32:20,738 --> 00:32:23,298 there were at least 400 to 500 of us. 515 00:32:23,741 --> 00:32:26,574 We came home to watch the news. 516 00:32:26,811 --> 00:32:29,541 They said we were less than 50. 517 00:32:29,781 --> 00:32:32,375 We realised they were telling lies. 518 00:32:34,118 --> 00:32:36,450 All the Rhodia guys saw it. 519 00:32:37,288 --> 00:32:39,518 We were disgusted. 520 00:32:39,757 --> 00:32:42,248 We were there, we could see it. 521 00:32:43,494 --> 00:32:45,758 That's why when the TV is here 522 00:32:45,997 --> 00:32:48,659 the delegates won't talk anymore. 523 00:32:58,176 --> 00:33:01,942 Following the lay-offs in Lyons, during a meeting 524 00:33:02,146 --> 00:33:06,082 Castella exposes a new aspect of the problem: 525 00:33:06,250 --> 00:33:10,209 Management want to get rid of the unionists. 526 00:33:10,421 --> 00:33:15,825 Out of these 92 comrades, 79 are in the union, 527 00:33:16,060 --> 00:33:19,223 former stewards or active members. 528 00:33:20,131 --> 00:33:21,689 It shows 529 00:33:21,899 --> 00:33:25,266 that Management are making a selection. 530 00:33:25,536 --> 00:33:29,267 They have decided to crack down on the union. 531 00:33:30,475 --> 00:33:34,673 A foreman told us that, according to rumours, 532 00:33:34,946 --> 00:33:38,541 the bosses almost agreed to raise the bonus. 533 00:33:38,750 --> 00:33:42,811 He didn't say how much. But some lads would be sacked. 534 00:33:43,888 --> 00:33:47,654 We won't have it. We told him we wanted 535 00:33:47,859 --> 00:33:51,556 the 90 lads inside first, then the bonus. 536 00:33:52,930 --> 00:33:54,830 The bosses are smart. 537 00:33:55,033 --> 00:33:58,491 They'd raise the bonus slightly to keep us quiet. 538 00:33:58,703 --> 00:34:01,467 Then they would sack the 90 guys. 539 00:34:01,672 --> 00:34:03,663 That's what they're plotting. 540 00:34:03,875 --> 00:34:07,902 Raise the bonus a bit, by 1 or 2% and the lads... 541 00:34:09,180 --> 00:34:12,115 They're being accused of sabotage. 542 00:34:12,450 --> 00:34:16,978 Some of them were on sick leave and they have been laid off. 543 00:34:17,188 --> 00:34:20,214 Could they sabotage anything if they were away? 544 00:34:20,425 --> 00:34:23,792 It shows these lay-offs were planned before. 545 00:34:25,196 --> 00:34:27,790 It's meant to break our backs. 546 00:34:29,534 --> 00:34:32,128 At Peugeot, what did they do 547 00:34:32,336 --> 00:34:35,032 when the stewards were sacked? 548 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:37,935 It's to break the backs of many. 549 00:34:38,709 --> 00:34:42,042 82 out of the 90 are unionised, it seems. 550 00:34:43,514 --> 00:34:47,507 At Peugeot, 3 or 4 years ago, when they were sacked, 551 00:34:48,119 --> 00:34:51,213 it was the same story. 552 00:34:51,856 --> 00:34:55,348 The reason is to break the militants' backs. 553 00:34:57,295 --> 00:35:00,264 To say "that'll calm you down". 554 00:35:02,266 --> 00:35:05,827 - Was there really sabotage? - We don't know. 555 00:35:08,106 --> 00:35:12,167 They should have complained to the police. 556 00:35:12,376 --> 00:35:15,641 It seems there was sabotage in Besançon too. 557 00:35:15,813 --> 00:35:17,804 We heard about it. 558 00:35:18,015 --> 00:35:20,313 And they lodged a complaint. 559 00:35:20,518 --> 00:35:25,114 Listen to this: a guy from Rhodia was accused, 560 00:35:25,690 --> 00:35:28,750 they booked him at Goudimel, with no evidence 561 00:35:28,960 --> 00:35:32,657 as per usual. We've all been through that. 562 00:35:32,864 --> 00:35:35,697 They took him there and bashed him. 563 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:40,496 Then they let him go as they can't keep you after 48 hours. 564 00:35:40,705 --> 00:35:42,832 He went back to work in the evening. 565 00:35:43,007 --> 00:35:45,976 The Superintendent went to see him. 566 00:35:46,177 --> 00:35:50,614 He asked : "What did they do to you? " 567 00:35:50,815 --> 00:35:52,407 "You really want to know? " 568 00:35:52,617 --> 00:35:55,609 He slapped the cop in front of all. 569 00:35:55,820 --> 00:35:58,812 The cop said he would deal with the case. 570 00:35:59,023 --> 00:36:02,459 Slapping the cop with all the workers watching. 571 00:36:02,660 --> 00:36:06,187 The Superintendent was pulling a face. 572 00:36:06,697 --> 00:36:09,825 I suggest to let the movement continue. 573 00:36:14,438 --> 00:36:17,168 The delegates assess the situation. 574 00:36:17,375 --> 00:36:19,741 The workers are hesitant. 575 00:36:19,944 --> 00:36:25,007 The threat of lay-offs and the lack of a real union unity 576 00:36:25,216 --> 00:36:27,309 have undermined combativeness. 577 00:36:27,518 --> 00:36:29,986 Strike calls are modified. 578 00:36:30,188 --> 00:36:33,954 - We must have a plan. - And the outgoing shifts? 579 00:36:34,158 --> 00:36:38,094 We must ask for their opinion, ask them the question. 580 00:36:38,296 --> 00:36:41,026 - We must do it at 1 :30. - 1 :30 then? 581 00:36:41,232 --> 00:36:45,134 - For the day you mean? - Let's see them at 8 p.m. 582 00:36:45,336 --> 00:36:47,463 It'll have to be quick. 583 00:36:47,672 --> 00:36:50,470 We plan a 24-hour strike on Friday, 584 00:36:50,675 --> 00:36:53,109 the cotton-mill lads keep working 585 00:36:53,311 --> 00:36:55,745 but they must give their wages 586 00:36:55,947 --> 00:36:58,677 to the workers being sacked in Vaise. 587 00:36:58,849 --> 00:37:02,808 Even if they go back in, they'll lose out. 588 00:37:03,020 --> 00:37:04,988 We must help them. 589 00:37:05,189 --> 00:37:07,020 It's not a bad idea. 590 00:37:07,225 --> 00:37:09,989 Tell the others, because we're not many... 591 00:37:10,194 --> 00:37:12,822 The spinning machines keep working? 592 00:37:13,097 --> 00:37:17,591 We'll force no one to work but we'll try to have a maximum... 593 00:37:17,768 --> 00:37:21,704 to avoid a lock-out because our fight won't be easy. 594 00:37:22,440 --> 00:37:26,137 There's a chance to have them back in if we fight. 595 00:37:26,344 --> 00:37:28,710 There are possible talks on wages. 596 00:37:28,913 --> 00:37:32,405 Yesterday, they wanted to talk about the bonus. 597 00:37:32,617 --> 00:37:36,451 They're luring us with the bonus. 598 00:37:39,390 --> 00:37:41,381 It's just blackmail. 599 00:37:43,094 --> 00:37:47,087 There's a bonus but the money is blocked for 5 years. 600 00:37:47,298 --> 00:37:49,528 So what does that leave us? 601 00:37:59,877 --> 00:38:02,744 What solution do you have? 602 00:38:03,814 --> 00:38:05,543 He wants revolution. 603 00:38:05,750 --> 00:38:09,208 Only revolution, otherwise we'll get nowhere. 604 00:38:09,420 --> 00:38:12,321 Nowhere. All the lads say so. 605 00:38:12,957 --> 00:38:15,323 Small strikes are useless. 606 00:38:15,493 --> 00:38:20,590 Yes, but the others don't see it that way. 607 00:38:20,998 --> 00:38:25,128 Only Rhodia's workers and the railways workers fight. 608 00:38:25,336 --> 00:38:27,896 At Lip, there were lay-offs. 609 00:38:28,105 --> 00:38:29,470 They just complained. 610 00:38:29,674 --> 00:38:32,472 A strike is too costly for them. 611 00:38:32,677 --> 00:38:35,840 True, money's scarce but it'll get worse. 612 00:38:36,180 --> 00:38:39,946 We should do as in 1 936, that's the only way. 613 00:38:40,151 --> 00:38:43,780 - Where did it start in 36? - In textiles. 614 00:38:44,455 --> 00:38:47,822 - You were too young! - I've heard about it. 615 00:38:48,025 --> 00:38:52,052 It was in Lyons, with the silk workers I think. 616 00:38:52,463 --> 00:38:56,627 How did it start? You remember the details? 617 00:38:56,834 --> 00:39:00,292 The CGTU and the CGT were united? 618 00:39:00,504 --> 00:39:02,597 Yes, so I was told. 619 00:39:03,307 --> 00:39:06,071 Union is the main thing anyway. 620 00:39:06,877 --> 00:39:07,935 The only way to win. 621 00:39:15,553 --> 00:39:19,216 RHODlA, WE SHALL WlN 622 00:39:21,492 --> 00:39:24,825 - Off to work! - I'm off too. 623 00:39:25,930 --> 00:39:27,397 Good bye, gentlemen. 624 00:39:32,636 --> 00:39:34,797 I'm going too. 625 00:39:44,448 --> 00:39:46,882 I'll pop in tomorrow before 1 0. 626 00:40:01,031 --> 00:40:05,092 Two days before Christmas, the strike takes place. 627 00:40:06,237 --> 00:40:07,795 The cotton-mill workers 628 00:40:07,972 --> 00:40:12,705 are advised to stay in to avoid the risk of a lock-out 629 00:40:13,144 --> 00:40:16,602 and to give their pay to the Lyons sacked workers. 630 00:40:17,348 --> 00:40:19,509 The others should strike, 631 00:40:19,717 --> 00:40:22,083 including salaried white collars, 632 00:40:22,253 --> 00:40:25,780 all those less concerned by the workers' actions. 633 00:40:25,990 --> 00:40:28,652 The workers feel bitter towards them : 634 00:40:28,859 --> 00:40:31,419 when lay-offs threatened employees 635 00:40:31,629 --> 00:40:33,995 the workers backed them up. 636 00:40:47,144 --> 00:40:51,274 Yoyo suggests : in order to ask the outgoing employees 637 00:40:51,449 --> 00:40:53,383 to back the workers, 638 00:40:53,584 --> 00:40:56,644 the strikers must block the factory gate. 639 00:40:56,854 --> 00:40:59,414 You have no time! We had time for you. 640 00:40:59,824 --> 00:41:03,055 Bastard! You son of a bitch! 641 00:41:03,427 --> 00:41:05,258 BACK THE SACKED WORKERS 642 00:41:05,463 --> 00:41:07,863 They're a bunch of rat-bags! 643 00:41:09,767 --> 00:41:11,667 YOU GET NOWHERE ALONE 644 00:41:13,270 --> 00:41:14,931 You're also exploited. 645 00:41:16,173 --> 00:41:20,769 The sacked workers in Lyons rely on you. 646 00:41:21,879 --> 00:41:24,905 - Take it easy! - What! 647 00:41:27,852 --> 00:41:30,252 - You bastards! - Wait a minute. 648 00:41:30,454 --> 00:41:33,218 Not more than others. 649 00:41:36,427 --> 00:41:40,761 ... solidarity will bring us victory! 650 00:41:42,132 --> 00:41:44,327 For who? For us? 651 00:41:44,935 --> 00:41:47,927 We stopped work for you, don't forget. 652 00:41:51,108 --> 00:41:52,132 It's over. 653 00:41:53,010 --> 00:41:56,673 The white collars listened but didn't join. 654 00:41:56,847 --> 00:42:01,011 Even among the workers, commitment is not unanimous. 655 00:42:02,753 --> 00:42:06,018 But strikes are not a series of final matches 656 00:42:06,457 --> 00:42:09,426 with results on a big board. 657 00:42:09,793 --> 00:42:13,854 They were not more defeated at Christmas 658 00:42:15,633 --> 00:42:20,536 than they had been victorious in Spring. 659 00:42:21,138 --> 00:42:23,038 Either way, 660 00:42:23,207 --> 00:42:25,471 they keep learning. 661 00:42:33,250 --> 00:42:35,377 Rhodia's strike has not failed. 662 00:42:35,586 --> 00:42:40,114 They want Christmas for their kids and they need to work. 663 00:42:41,458 --> 00:42:46,293 About 1 0 000 workers have lost a day's pay, 664 00:42:46,497 --> 00:42:48,431 just like that. 665 00:42:48,632 --> 00:42:52,796 It is not a prowess, it's solidarity and it is something 666 00:42:52,970 --> 00:42:58,033 formidable compared to TV games or trash papers. 667 00:42:58,742 --> 00:43:01,142 It's far better, it's wonderful. 668 00:43:01,979 --> 00:43:04,072 Some don't even realise... 669 00:43:04,248 --> 00:43:07,342 It's normal, it's the working class... 670 00:43:08,152 --> 00:43:10,313 That's what we must be aware of. 671 00:43:10,487 --> 00:43:15,220 What is beautiful is not what is written in the tabloids. 672 00:43:15,426 --> 00:43:18,020 It's what the working class does. 673 00:43:18,228 --> 00:43:22,187 It's to lose 5000 francs to support our sacked mates, 674 00:43:22,399 --> 00:43:25,061 and to contribute today again 675 00:43:25,269 --> 00:43:28,864 to make up for their lost pay. 676 00:43:29,640 --> 00:43:33,440 If only this was advertised and spread... 677 00:43:36,981 --> 00:43:39,472 - lsn't that culture? - Sure is. 678 00:43:43,053 --> 00:43:44,782 I want to tell Management 679 00:43:44,989 --> 00:43:49,517 we'll win thanks to the solidarity they know nothing about. 680 00:43:50,127 --> 00:43:51,992 We'll get you. 681 00:43:52,196 --> 00:43:57,099 We're not mad at those who think wrongly they are the boss, 682 00:43:57,301 --> 00:44:00,065 but we'll get those who own capital, 683 00:44:00,270 --> 00:44:04,468 it has to be, it's natural and we'll be seeing you. 684 00:44:18,055 --> 00:44:19,955 Subtitles: Eliza & Malcolm McDonald 685 00:44:20,157 --> 00:44:22,091 Processed by B.B. COM - Paris 686 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:26,088 Best watched using Open Subtitles MKV Player