GV POSTAL SORTING OFFICE IN PARIS

LV POSTAL WORKERS STANDING BY VANS

LV&CU SACKS OF MAIL STACKED UP

GV STRIKERS MARCHING THROUGH PARIS STREETS WITH BANNERS (2 SHOTS)

GV DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING TOWARDS MINISTRY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS (2 SHOTS)

SV ZOOM OUT FROM POLICE TO PICKETS IN FRONT OF BUILDING

SV PAN FROM MINISTRY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TO STRIKERS

GV CITROEN FACTORY IN PARIS (2 SHOTS)

SV UNION OFFICIAL PINS UP NOTICE

GV HEAVY INDUSTRY PLANT

GV RAILWAY GOODS YARD



Initials EW/AW/BB/2219



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: POSTAL SERVICES IN PARIS AND SEVERAL PROVINCIAL REGIONS CAME TO A STANDSTILL ON WEDNESDAY (23 OCTOBER) AS FRENCH POST OFFICE WORKERS CONTINUED THEIR INDEFINATE STRIKE. THE POSTAL WORKERS -- WHO BEGAN THEIR INDUSTRIAL ACTION LAST THURSDAY (17 OCTOBER) -- ARE DEMANDING HIGHER WAGES AND IMPROVED WORKING CONDITIONS.

THE STRIKERS MARCHED THROUGHOUT THE RAIN TO THE MINISTRY OF POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN PARIS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE TALKS WERE GOING ON BETWEEN THE UNIONS INVOLVED AND THE MINISTER FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO BRING THE STRIKE TO AN EARLY END.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC TO STOP MAILING LETTERS.

THE POSTAL STRIKE COMES AGAINST A BACKGROUND O RISING UNEMPLOYMENT IN FRANCE.

FIGURES RELEASED BY THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR EARLIER IN THE WEEK SHOWED A 24-PER-CENT INCREASE IN TEMPORARY UNEMPLOYMENT DURING SEPTEMBER COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. THIS FOLLOWS A RAPID RISE IN COMPANY FAILURES AND SPECTACULAR INDUSTRIAL LOSSES..... CONSEQUENCES OF A CREDIT SQUEEZE TO REDUCE THE RATE OF INFLATION. THE NUMBER OF JOB VACANCIES HAS DECLINED SHARPLY IN RECENT MONTHS.

THE CAR AND AIR INDUSTRIES ARE AMONG THE HARDEST HIT. THE CITROEN MOTOR COMPANY ANNOUNCED ON MONDAY AN ESTIMATED LOSS OF 395 MILLION FRANCS (GBP 35 MILLION POUNDS STERLING) FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 1974, WHILE AIR FRANCE HAS A PROJECTED 1974 LOSS OF 450 MILLION FRANCS (40 MILLION POUND STERLING).

SYNOPSIS: THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT HAS APPEALED TO THE PUBLIC NOT TO SEND MAIL TO OR FROM THE CAPITAL ... ALREADY THE SIX-DAY BACKLOG OF MAIL WILL TAKE OVER A WEEK TO CLEAR.

ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON, THE STRIKERS MARCHED THROUGH PARIS TO THE MINISTRY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS. TALKS WENT ON THROUGH THE DAY BETWEEN UNION LEADERS AND THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MINISTER IN AN ATTEMPT TO END THE STRIKE. BUT NO SOLUTION WAS REACHED.

POSTAL AUTHORITIES ESTIMATE THAT 83 PER CENT OF PARIS STAFF AND 62 PER CENT OF REGIONAL STAFF ARE ALREADY ON STRIKE. THEY HAVE PROMISED THAT DELIVERY OF URGENT ITEMS -- SUCH AS VACCINE AND SERUM -- WILL BE CONTINUED.

THE STRIKERS HAVE CALLED FOR A MINIMUM WAGE OF ONE THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED FRANCS A MONTH, AND AN IMMEDIATE 200-FRANC BONUS.

THEY'RE PREPARED TO CONTINUE THEIR ACTION AS LONG AS NECESSARY TO SECURE THEIR DEMANDS.