Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1984. július-december (38. évfolyam, 27-48. szám)
1984-07-19 / 29. szám
Thursday, July 19. 1984. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO 11. James Lustig: HISTORIC VICTORY A historic event took place in the German Federal Republic during the months of May and June, 1984. When the collective agreement expired between the metalworkers union and the employers, the workers demanded the establishment of the 35 hour week, without any wage cuts. The employers answered with a decisive NO, They explained their attitude by saying, to comply with this demand would place them in disadvantageous position with their competitors on the world markets. The workers on the other hand reasoned: there are a great number of unemployed, they have to reduce the working hours and make possible the employment of their fellow workers. Since no agreement was reached, the workers went on strike and the government sided with the employers. As a result of the strike, many workers were dismissed in the auto-and other industries for lack of parts. The government denied unemployment insurance to these workers. During the first few weeks of the strike the employers refused even to meet with the representatives of the strikers. They did this in the expectation that their determination will be broken and they will return to work defeated. The employers were mistaken in their belief. The workers in other industries rallied to the support of the strikers and workers in all industrial countries did the same. In the fourth week of the strike the lack of parts affected the auto industry in all European countries as well as in the machine building industry. The losses of the employers mounted with every day of the strike. It became clear that the workers were determined to carry on the fight until victory. The employers were compelled to start negotiating. In the seventh week an agreement was reached: to reduce the work week from 40 hours to 38 and a half. The agreement makes it possible that in some shops the work week will be 35, in others 37, but in no shop can it exceed 38 and a half. The reduction of the work week from 40 hours to 38 and a half hours has historic significance. ***** During the last few decades of the last century and the first few of the present 20th century, the workers of the USA were leading the fight to reduce the workweek. In these years, they were working 7 days a week, 12-14 hours a day. They started a movement to establish the 8 hour day. The fight began and continued for a half a century. It took terrible efforts, real sacrifices, strike struggles, determination, dedication and commitment. Many workers were killed on the picketlines, many were wounded in the struggle. Thousands were arrested, the leaders were framed and jailed. But these struggles finally resulted in the establishment of the 8 hour day and the 40 hour week. As late as the 1930's the steel barons of the country said: we must have the 12 hour day, for we cannot shut down our ovens, we must have two 12 hour shifts. They did not know that not only twice 12 makes 24 hours, but 3 times 8 also makes 24. The strike of the organized German workers was supported by the workers of the world. The Executive Board of the United Electrical and Machine Workers of America was one of the many trade unions in the US, that sent them greetings and pledge of support. The agreement reached after the strike guarantees the reduced workweek only to the metalworkers, but it is taken for granted that the workers in other industries will follow their example and in a very short time the 35 hour week will be the established workweek in industry. Hans Mayer, the head of the organized metalworkers, the leader of the strike, said when victory was achieved: "We have opened the door." Yes, the door is open. No doubt, more and more workers the world over will walk through the door in the coming months and years. ‘GUANO’FOR EXPORT BUDAPEST. The agricultural complex of Mezőfalva manufactures 18 tons of crystallized uricum, a base material of medicines from poultry manure. Uricum, an expensive and much-sought-after substance is used to make painkillers. The poultry manure that is left at the end of the process is mixed with peat and forest soil, packaged in one-kilo bags and sold as mould for flower pots, chiefly in West Germany. "Every generation that holds the earth hostage to nuclear destruction holds a gun to the head of its own children.... The only way to escape from the trap is to change the system, and take away from nuclear weapons the responsibility for defending nations.... Either we will sink into the final coma and end it all or, as I trust and believe, we will awaken to the truth of our peril, a truth as great as life itself, and, like a person who has swallowed a lethal poison but shakes off his stupor at the last moment and vomits the poison up, we will break through the layers of our denials, put aside our fainthearted excuses, and rise up to cleanse the earth of nuclear weapons." JONATHAN SCHELL in The New Yorker INSTRUMENT FOR FORECASTING OPTIMAL HARVEST BUDAPEST. An instrument developed by biologist Vilmos Franyo, can be used to measure the carbon dioxide discharge of fruit and crops and forecast from the readings the optimal time of harvest. There is a relatively short time in the ripening period when the fruit is at its best for harvesting as it contains the highest amount of biologically useful substances and keeps longest without damage. The instrument measures the respiration of the plants and indicates with accuracy the optimal time. It is highly sensitive with a hundredth of a millionth gramme the lowest amount of carbon dioxide measured. The instrument automatically registers measurements as well as start and finish of measuring and gives immediate information on the degree of freshness of the produce.
