WORKERS MARCHING WITH BANNERS AND DRUMMERS; ARRIVAL AT GOVERNMENT BUILDING; OUEDRAOGO SPEAKING; PRESENTING BOOK TO KABORE; KABORE ADDRESSING CROWD; OUEDRAOGO SPEAKING; CROWD LISTENING AND APPLAUDING.




Initials GL/VS/DB/PC



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Background: WORKERS IN UPPER VOLTA MARCHED IN A LONG PROCESSION HEADED BY TRADE UNION LEADERS THROUGH THE STREETS OF THE CAPITAL, OUAGADOUGOU ON MAY 1 TO CELEBRATE LABOUR DAY AFTER A MARCH LASTING SEVERAL HOURS THEY REACHED THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING WHERE THEY PRESENTED THEIR BOOK OF DEMANDS TO THE MINISTER OF LABOUR.

THE MARCH, WHICH WAS ORDERLY, THOUGH EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE THIS YEAR, BEGAN AT THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS HEADQUARTERS. THE WORKERS WERE ACCOMPANIED BY DRUMMERS AND GIRLS WHO CARRIED BANNERS CALLING FOR INCREASES IN THE GUARANTEED MINIMUM WAGE AND FAMILY ALLOWANCES, EQUAL JUSTICE AND AN END TO FAVOURITISM, PEACE IN VIETNAM AND NIGERIA AND UNITY IN WEST AFRICA.

THE MARCHERS WERE WELCOMED OUTSIDE THE GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING BY THE MINISTER OF LABOUR, M. DOMINIQUE KABORE, AND HIS CLOSEST COLLEAGUES. M. SALIF OUEDRAOGO PRESENTED HIM WITH THE WORKERS' BOOK OF DEMANDS IN THE NAME OF THE TRADE UNION CONGRESS.

M. OUEDRAOGO SAID THEY TRUSTED THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STUDY IT WITH THE MOST SYMPATHETIC ATTENTION.

M. KABORE THEN ADDRESSED THE ASSEMBLED WORKERS. HE HAD ALREADY GIVEN HIS MAY DAY MESSAGE TO THE NATION'S WORKERS BY RADIO THE PREVIOUS EVENING.

HE OFFERED THEM HIS GREETINGS ON THIS DAY WHICH MARKED, FOR THE WORKERS OF THE WHOLE WORLD, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR VICTORY IN THE LONG AND PAINFUL STRUGGLE FOR JUSTICE AND SOCIAL WELL-BEING. HE ALSO OFFERED ENCOURAGEMENT FOR VIGILANCE AND A SUSTAINED EFFORT TO CONSOLIDATE THE GAINS MADE BY THE WORKING CLASS IN ITS BATTLES AGAINST PRIVILEGE AND EXPLOITATION.

M. KABORE CONCLUDED HIS BROADCAST WITH A REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENTS. BOTH IN THE INDUSTRIALISED AND THE EMERGING NATIONS, IN THE 50 YEARS SINCE THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION WAS SET UP.