Popular Front (France) - The Popular Front in Government

The Popular Front in Government

Through the 1936 Matignon Accords, the Popular Front introduced new labor laws. It:

• created the right to strike
• created collective bargaining
• enacted the law mandating 12 days (2 weeks) each year of paid Annual leaves for workers
• enacted the law limiting the workweek to 40 hours (outside of overtime)
• raised wages (15% for the lowest-paid workers, declining to 7% for the relatively well-paid)
• stipulated that employers would recognise shop stewards.
• ensured that there would be no retaliation against strikers.

The government sought to carry out its reforms as rapidly as possible. On 11 June, the Chamber of Deputies voted for the forty-hour workweek, the restoration of civil servant's salaries, and two week's paid holidays, by a majority of 528 to 7. The Senate voted in favour of these laws within a week.

The Bank of France was democratised by enabling all shareholders to attend meetings and set up a new council with more representation from government. By mid-August, parliament had voted for the creation of a national Office du blé (Grain Board or Wheat Office, through which the government helped to market agricultural produce at fair prices for farmers) to stabilise prices and curb speculation, the nationalisation of the arms industries, loans to small and medium-sized industries, the raising of the compulsory school-leaving age to 14, measures against illicit price rises, and a major public works programme. The legislative achievements of the Popular Front government were such that before parliament went into recess, it had passed 133 laws within the space of 73 days.

Other measures carried out by the Popular Front government improved the pay, pensions, allowances and tax obligations of public-sector workers and ex-servicemen. The 1920 Sales Tax, opposed by the Left as it was a tax on consumers, was abolished and replaced by a production tax, which was considered to be a tax on the producer instead of the consumer. The government also made some administrative changes to the civil service, such as a new director-general for the Paris police and a new governor for the Bank of France. In addition, a secretariat for sports and leisure was established, while the opportunities for the children of workers and peasants in secondary education were increased. Secondary education was made free to all pupils, whereas previously it had been closed to the poor, who were unable to afford to pay tuition. In spite of the economic problems faced by the Popular Front government, it succeeded in improving the lives of most workers in France.

Léon Blum also dissolved the far-right fascist leagues, and the Popular Front was actively fought by right-wing and far-right movements, which often used antisemitic slurs against Blum and other ministers. The Cagoule far-right group even staged bombings to disrupt the government.

Although Léon Blum (as well as the PCF) wanted to intervene to help the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39), the Radicals were opposed to it, and threatened to quit the government if he helped them. Thus, a policy of non-intervention was adopted.