France is paralyzed by transport strikes. This is not the first time that this has happened. Already a century ago in 1919, a great wave of strikes had surged in the country.
What did the Jewish newspapers of that time think?
- The Jewish working-class world at the beginning of the XXth century, for example the cap-makers
- The strikes of June 1919, between patriotism and fear of being accused of propagating the revolution
WHO WERE THE JEWISH WORKERS?
The sources :
GREEN, Nancy, Jewish immigrant workers at the Belle Epoque , Paris, Fayard, 1985 (available in our library)
On the digital library, Maurice Lauzel's brochure on the Jewish workers of Paris, the cap makers , published in 1912. Our copy is dedicated by the author to his friend the excellent writer G. Delahache (real name Lucien Aaron 1872 -1929, friend of Charles Péguy)
Jewish workers in France at the start of the 20th century were mostly immigrants, many working from home.
1901: 62% are skilled workers mainly in the textiles and hides, skins and leather market, 27% are traders, 6% unskilled workers, 4% independent professionals, 1% employees.
Complaints: low wages, long hours, occupational illnesses, lack of respect. In addition, most work from home, on commission, and have to bear the cost of equipment, supplies and fluids. It is therefore an endless race to hope to win very little, with a feeling of independence quickly forgotten. As a consequence, there are regular social movements in these clothing industries, involving Jewish employers and Jewish skilled workers.
There were 62 cap maker strikes between 1886 and 1919. And the bakers were very active as well.
In clothing, one of the main points of conflict is the off-season: no work, no income, no social security.
Another problem that particularly affects Jewish workers: competition between workers of different nationalities.
THE GREAT STRIKES OF 1919
They mainly affected the metalworking industry. The causes were the increase of living costs, and the demobilization which increases unemployment. The strikes were very popular and politicized, in a rather revolutionary atmosphere in Europe.
The National Assembly introduced in April 1919 a law instituting the 6-day week for 48 hours of work. Workers and unions demanded a 44-hour week with free Saturday afternoon (the English week)
On June 2 a massive strike hit metalworkers and metro workers. The transportation strike lasted until June 15
An article from the Israelite Archives for June 12, 1919 informs us that the discontent is due mainly to the high livingcosts, and is concerned to see Jews, fortunately few in number, designated as profit-makers from the war.
On June 19 an article was published entitled "En Devisant" signed by Quies, which criticizes the presence of Jews in the revolutionary movements in Europe:
Surely, the profession of chief revolutionary was hardly successful for the Israelites.
The author worries on the fate of Kurt Eisner in Bavaria and Trotsky in Russia, before concluding:
In Germany, as in Russia, retrograde parties do not forgive the Jews for encouraging socialism, for pursuing the success of a proletarian society, for pouring into communism. They will always be the first victims of the reaction!
This article followed a post on the future of Judaism by Emile Capus, returning again to the Sacred Union and the sacrifice shared by the Jews with their fellow citizens during the War.
Despite the strikes, alas! too many to care of, everyone feels the need for order and work.
The Jews are accused by the anti-Semites of being revolutionaries.
The truth is very different, most of them with their close family relationships and hardworking habits, are rather conservative in nature.
He hopes to see disappear
the two main pretexts of anti-Semitism, the lack of patriotism and the taste for revolutions.
On July 17 , the Israelite Archives celebrated the parade of July 14, 1919 which, after 5 years of war, was the summit of sacred union and patriotic sentiment. Emile Cahen protests against the strikes which weakened the country and remarks
In fact, while a strike caused by workers' demands can be justifiable, one that has only a political goal is obnoxious at all times - and criminal at this moment. We are therefore convinced that the Jews ha ving some influence in the General Confederation of Labor, will prevent the July 21 movement which seems abominable to us.
A desire for order and a belief in Jewish influence over the union are mixed here.
We can see the reactions of the French Israelite bourgeois press are not interested in economic and social questions, but oscillated between the affirmation of the patriotism of the Jews, being French as immigrants, and the fear of their identification with revolutionary tendencies.