"BLOW FOR BLOW" "I've asked 3 times to go to the john." "Blabbing away, eh?" "She asked for my scissors." "And that takes all day long!" " Yesterday it was pencils." " Now it's scissors!" "I can't tell her no." "Do you want a penalty?" "Give her the scissors yourself!" "All right." "We've been asking you for 3 days." "Now get to work." "Get more sleep and you'll work better!" "You're a fool to work so hard." "It's the same every day for the 300 women here," "Like all mills that employ women weaving and sewing," "We get here half awake and work non-stop without looking up," "We have no choice," "It's the only work in our region," "If we're late one minute, we get docked for 15," "Only one thing counts:" "maximum yield to put the maximum into Boursac's pockets!" "Glad to get your pay?" "After rent and food, all I got left is this!" "Serves you right!" "I told you not to overwork!" "See what sucking up gets you?" "They promised me full status." " They promised me for 3 years!" " You're doing better now." "But half my pay goes to the nursery!" "I'm worn out and I earn 1l4 less than my old man!" "I'm fed up to the gills!" "6:20 PM," "If those rats would let us go 5 minutes early we'd get the early bus and be home already with 20 minutes to relax in," "You can go upstairs on your own!" "Hurry up!" "Get a move on!" "Open the door." "Come on!" "What a pig-head!" "Get your homework done!" "I've checked the dues." "75% are behind." "It can't go on!" "Get your shop to pay up!" "I can't go fish it out of their pockets!" "They're all fed up." "In the shop, we got no time to talk," "If we make friends, they move us," "During breakdowns, they make us sweep so we won't talk, so we won't waste a minute," "Girls on the same job aren't paid alike," "They do all they can to keep us apart but some of us have grouped together," "You have to start somewhere," "We're sick of unions and useless strikes," "We want more than their piddling raises," "We can't go on living this way!" "We're sick of being exploited!" "That's why we got to get organized," "We got to sabotage production and stand up to those in charge," "It's the only way we'll manage because all the boss wants is money," "We stop paying and he pays!" "It's broken!" "Hurry up, stop gaping!" "You'll lose out on your yield!" "I won't do overtime!" "Think so?" "The coffee break!" "You think it's funny!" "They're scared to lose money!" "He's furious." "Try to hurry." "That's it, take your time!" "I got to get out my tools." "See anything?" "I don't." "Who asked you?" "They're enjoying this!" "It's disconnected, it's one of the machines." "Then check them all!" ""Hand in hand go work and health" ""Doing nothing keeps you strong" ""Sweatshop convicts" ""don't live long!"" "Take your seat!" "My legs hurt!" "Then take your seat!" "Short circuits don't just happen." "Will you stop?" "Want my seat?" "Talking back to me?" "Will you stop wasting time?" "That won't do..." "Fed up, fed up!" "I want to live, see the sun!" "I'm sick of this life!" "Are you out of your mind?" "Water!" "Don't touch me!" "There, there, dear." "Leave her alone!" "What's wrong with her?" "A nervous fit!" "Overwork?" "That and the heat." "It's overwork." "Let's stop." "We're fed up." "It's too hot!" "Let's get back to work." "Orders from the boss!" "Take your seats." "Very well." "I'll report those who won't work to the management." "No production, no pay!" "Have you all gone mad?" "Work fiend!" "Stop work, girls." "Don't give in!" "They think they can fool us!" "They say "work" but won't change a thing." "Hell!" "I'll go ask Boursac for improvements." "Like us last week in the weaving section, several girls had nervous fits." "Since your shop is protesting we should protest together." "The whole mill should protest at once." "In our shop, we didn't get nowhere." "You got to take your foreman down a peg, that "Sourpuss" of yours." "Hit her first." "She's the worst." "Our shop ain't all that bad." "What could we do to her?" "I've got an idea." "Something to remember us by!" "Something we'd do in the shop?" "Yeah, in the shop so that we can all join in." "Catch her outside!" "It'd be better to get her outside." "Pour a bucket of oil over her head!" "We'll get the oil for you." "But if you do that, you'll be reported and fired the next day." "Flour's better." "She'll look like a clown!" "That'd be real funny!" "If you'd rather..." "It'd be funnier." "It'd be a real gas!" "Yeah, flour." "In front of everybody, at the main gates." "Tell the girls so they'll stay to watch." "Full steam ahead for the bucket of flour!" "Hello, Sourpuss." "See what Sourpuss got?" "You may get the same!" "What a way to be!" "A great way to be!" "You won't work?" "Well, we will!" "You're young, you'll find other work, not us." "Have you decided?" "She bugs us all day!" "She's an employee, just like us!" " The things we put up with!" " Yes, let's go." "It's dumb to attack the foremen." "We'll need them one day." "They won't do a thing about it!" "The sun was great!" "Hey you, get back to work!" "Put Mr Boursac on, please." "Mr Boursac?" "My respects, Sir." "People at the gate are handing out leaflets." "You're overpaid!" "Hard to think you started out like us." "Bitch!" "This is Boursac." "I've got trouble at my mill." "Leftists no doubt." "Right, it's very urgent." "Thank you, Officer." "Watch out!" "The cops!" "Scram!" "We got a right to give out leaflets." "Let 'em come!" "We got the right!" "Isn't France a republic?" "Run for it!" "Serves those fools right!" "Bitch!" "Think that does any good?" "You'll spoil everything!" "It's the wrong way!" "Get back to work!" "NOTICE TO EMPLOYEES" "At that rate, it'll never get done!" "Get a move on!" "Will you get busy!" "SOURPUSS" " BEAT ME UP" "Production is falling off drastically." "The shop is full of agitators." "I spoke to the foremen." "This trouble is likely to spread." "Who is to blame?" "Colette Taun, to the office!" "Agnes Duchemin, to the office!" "They fired Colette and Agnes!" "The rats!" "I'm fed up!" "I'd rather die than work like this!" "They treat us like machines!" "Those who don't keep pace get fired!" "I'll go to the office." "I'll try my luck!" "Let's all go!" "Let's all go to the office!" "What's going on?" "We got two, you're the third!" "I'll call Mr Boursac!" "That may take a while!" "We've got him now!" "No damage, but we got to act quick!" "They're hard to manage." "They've locked Boursac in!" "Comrades!" "At long last!" "We ask you to wait calmly till the talks are over." "You can trust us, we've proved it before." "We'll convince Mr Boursac that you are right!" "Your spiel hasn't changed in 20 years!" "Does he know what we want?" "He's aware of your problems." "He'll negotiate with Mr Boursac." "Just wait!" "I'm the union representative." "He has lost touch, he no longer works with us." "He's in an office." "Besides, he's a man!" "Ginette is a woman!" "Let's not do like in '68 or we've had it!" "We started from scratch." "We can't do a thing without union approval." "Finding a job'll be great fun!" "Especially in this region." "Fat chance!" "The union guy won't be out of work!" "Here they are!" "I obtained satisfaction." "We won't let 'em fool us!" "Are the girls hired back?" "Comrades!" "After a difficult but rewarding talk, most of your demands have been granted." "It is in the interest of you all to resume work in an orderly fashion." "Of course, resuming work doesn't at all mean that we abandon more important goals." "For the time being," "Mr Boursac has been forced to satisfy your immediate demands." "And the 2 girls?" "The ones he fired?" "Employees with over 20 years' seniority get a 2.3% raise!" "Employees... with 10 to 20 years' seniority get a 1.8% raise." "What about us?" "The others get a 1.4% raise!" "We submit these results to your approval." "It is good to see you unified..." "Smooth talker!" "...in this phase of the working-class struggle despite agitation and attempts to undermine your solidarity." "Let's occupy!" "Occupy!" "For the 2 girls fired, we obtained 2 months' notice!" "Silence!" "We must at all cost remain within the law." "The management will not negotiate further unless you go back to your jobs." "You must all resume work together!" "Comrades, listen to me." "Don't let those leeches get away with this!" "We want the 2 girls hired back... and raises and lower production speeds." "Let's occupy the mill!" "Occupy!" "Occupy!" "MILL OCCUPIED BY ANGRY WORKERS" "What a whopping bookcase that sap's got!" "All hand carved!" "I ain't even got a cheap one!" "Look what I found!" "Sourpuss's notebook!" "The bitch!" "See my name?" "All the names." "Some names in red ink!" "She marked 'em in red, the bitch!" "And she makes comments!" "Watch out!" "Look at that!" "We've all been graded." "When I see her, I'll fix her!" "She'll get bags of flour this time!" "Let's go tell the girls!" "She notes everything!" "Here's what I want, the money figures!" "She's got you pegged!" "Small wonder." "With a puss like hers!" "Just think, profit margins, right here!" "Do you see that?" ""We inform you of an increase in prices."" "But not our salaries." "Hell!" "What a bunch of rats!" "We ought to tear up the office!" "Want some eats?" "Here's an invitation!" "He's got it easy!" "Ain't you scared?" "It'll be hard for women to hold out." "Scared?" "Why?" "There are lots of us and we all agree!" "But if they force you out?" "We're well organized." "Let 'em try!" "Mineral water, 120 grams." "3 spoonfuls of milk, in the cupboard." "That's in the buffet." "One spoonful of flour for each bottleful." "Change her often." "Use lotion and powder." "Tomorrow morning, take them to mother's at 6:30." "Then have your coffee." "Where are you going?" "Home, if not, our folks'll grouch!" " Letting us down, eh?" " No, we'll be back tomorrow!" "You better be!" "So long, girls!" "It's too important." "I'm staying!" "Who'll fry my steak?" "Do without a maid for once!" "Fry it yourself!" "Come on, drink!" "Won't you drink?" "Naughty girl!" "Don't play with matches!" "What a mess!" "Sit there and stay put!" "Put the potatoes in there." "Hurry up!" "Better than that!" "Closer!" "Come on, kids!" ""Sad sack Boursac, we'll get you!"" "We need stuff for the fire." "You awake?" "I wonder if he can handle such tiny tots?" "I'm sure it's a holy mess." "At least he'll know what it's like!" "Your turn to guard!" "Scram, you work fiends!" "Go home!" "It's occupied!" "Hurry, they're waiting!" "Let 'em in, we'll take care of 'em." "They can make kids but not raise 'em!" "What a father!" "They haven't eaten." "So I got to feed 'em too!" "I didn't have time." "Scram!" "You make me mad!" "Come to mama." "Don't touch that." "Look out for the work fiends!" "It took a strike to get us acquainted." "With speed and yields we couldn't even look at one another!" "We couldn't talk." "Got any kids?" "5... 3 are married." "I got 2 left." "I get the meals for them." "Mine are at camp." "No problems then." "I laugh when I think what my husband's doing!" "He can do the housework for a change!" "You can take it easy." "I'm free!" "If it could only last!" "I got to wait on him." "It's a nice rest." "Men don't understand!" "Teach them." "Are you thirsty?" "I am." "My cup's gone!" "Get another one." "Not in there." "My glass is gone." "Who is to stand guard tonight?" "I am." "I haven't seen my husband." "I haven't spent the night for a week." "When I go home, I'm exhausted." "We can't talk." "Me too." "My husband works different shifts." "He comes home when I got to work or else it's the opposite." "All we have is quickies." "It's not much of a life." ""8 hours straight on the grind" ""With those lousy bums at our necks" ""It's really too much to bear" ""Some day we'll skin 'em alive!"" ""Some day we'll skin 'em alive!"" "And then?" "The boss..." "Wait, wait..." "The husband's another boss." ""When you get home" ""Your husband replaces the boss" ""The foremen run their hands" ""Over the girls behinds" ""The foreman's spouting off" ""His stop-watch is stopped" ""The little tyrant" ""With his little pencil!"" ""No time for coffee even!" ""There's no end to it all" ""In this hell-hole!" ""You're always a wreck" ""We've had a bellyful!"" ""In 20 years we'll be worn out!" ""They're scared spitless!" ""There's no one to push us around!" ""We can have a ball!" ""The mill is liberated!" ""Come in and see for yourself" ""The monkey's locked up at last!"" "We told you we made collections." "We gave you the figures." "What more do you want?" "If you griped about posters I'd understand because they didn't put 'em up!" "I spent the whole night at it!" "Why couldn't you say so?" "Go see where I stuck 'em!" "The girls made the posters!" "You should've said you stuck 'em up!" "Go see where I put 'em!" "Cool it, don't get excited!" "Go look at all the factories near the school!" "Where did you put 'em?" "The guys where I work didn't spot one!" "Then they went the other way!" "I'll give you the potatoes for free." "No use dumping 'em out, I'll let you have 'em." " We'll be back to settle up." " The girls all say thanks." "I can give you milk." "How much will it cost?" "Since you're on strike, to help you out, I'll sell it for what I always get," "52 centimes." "It's nothing!" "We pay over double!" "Think of the difference!" "It's the mark-up from producer to consumer." "We eat the little ones too!" "Wait'll you get kids!" "Cut out the eyes!" "Are you out of your minds?" "This is an office, not a nursery!" "You could put your kids some place else." "You should've asked my permission." "No respect!" "No boss here now!" ""Sweatshop convicts" ""Never live long!"" "What does she want now?" "She's getting on my nerves!" "I'll take it out on my potato!" "How do we eat 'em tonight, fried or mashed?" "We're having noodles." "Noodles with potatoes." "Must be good!" "I've thought it over, this can't go on." "I'll go talk to Boursac." "Talk, talk, see what it gets you!" "We got sticks to welcome you!" "Mr Henri?" "This is Boursac." "Go ahead tonight." "You'll get your envelope." "Don't ever come here." ""You don't smoke, you're lucky" ""Life for you is like velvet" ""Tobacco makes the pain easier" ""With a smoke, the burden is lighter" ""We do have alcohol" ""But don't mention that bilge" ""It makes your head spin" ""My aunt was a lush" ""She sold her soul" ""Tobacco's my morphine" ""It's my vice" ""The kind you take in your fingers" ""The kind you roll" ""It's strong and bitter, like wood" ""It fills you full" ""It's good, it leaves a taste" ""An odd taste" ""Of blood and love and disgust" ""In the mouth"" "I can't go on and on." "It's great." "How old is it?" "It's very old." "Before '36!" "Long before!" "When they sang that, I was 18 or 20." "It goes back a long way." " What happened in '36?" " A little like now, only less." "We occupied mills too." "Not a soul was working." "They stopped the machines." "Some wanted to work but they couldn't." "When they saw it was no use, everybody stopped." "All at once?" "Not all at once." "It took 2 days before the whole mill stopped, completely stopped." "Did you shut the machines off?" "There was always a machine." "If a few wanted to work, we shut it off." "Things slowed down and after 2 days... there were pickets and we waited." "We talked in small groups." "The men stood watch at night, not us." " No women?" " Not at night." "Don't panic!" "They broke a window." "What's he want?" "I want to avoid trouble." "A cop!" "Shots were fired." "You'd better leave." "Did Boursac send you?" "You can't defend us, we're sick of you!" "We're fed up!" "Get the hell out!" "What you up to?" "Boursac said he'd send in the cops!" "We said, "Do that and we burn your mill!"" "Before, I was nothing," "I didn't talk to no one," "Hullo, g'bye," "I lived alone with my kids," "I made meals for my husband," "I'm discovering a new world!" "A new world, another way to live," "A way of our own choice!" "It's a complete break," "It'll never be the same," "Starvers!" "Profiteers!" "Stick it out, girls, don't give in!" "We'll hold out!" "Elodie's old and she can do it!" "So why can't the others?" "Anyway, I'll stick it out." "Hurry up, you got to go down!" "I know, wait till I finish smoking." "I'll bring you coffee." "I sure hope you will!" "Want it spiked?" "I don't need that." "I ain't afraid." "One smoke and I go!" "They're all dumbells." "Okay, men, let's go." "You bastards!" "The cops almost got us!" "But we were ready." "Luckily we weren't alone." "Metal-workers, support us!" "Workers and peasants:" "same struggle!" "Students, support us!" "And who's to blame?" "Boursac!" "The boss!" "He brought in the cops!" "Boursac, you rat!" "We'll get you!" "Mr Boursac, for our viewers, would you answer a few questions?" "Gladly," "There is a conflict at your mill," "Can you briefly explain why?" "Seen in the present context, it's an after-effect of May '68," "Therefore many things occur," "Yet we think we can try to meet their demands," "I believe we'll succeed," "Do you think it was spontaneous?" "Or was it planned, well in advance?" "According to our information," "I believe it's not just the usual union problems but also certain agitators who have infiltrated the unions," "Of course they try to make things worse," "What about the girls you fired?" "Where those girls are concerned" "I can assure you they were fired in accordance with labor regulations," "I think the conflict will end soon," "We're making a report on the Boursac strike," "We already have the opinions of the owner and the labor inspector," "Now we'd like to hear the other side," "Does the union you represent think the strike is alarming?" "It is serious," "But not alarming, not as much as some want us to believe," "Our intention is quite clear," "We want to resume negotiations at once," "We have said so several times," "Let me remind Mr Boursac now that we are ready to negotiate," "It's true, some of us are giving up." "Put yourself in their places." "The strike has gone on 3 weeks." "Same old thing." "Occupy, occupy." "It's tiring." "We got to find another way." "It can't be settled now, it's too late!" "We got to try to trap the boss again." "Or do something more effective." "It was stupid to let him go." "They fooled us." "But if everybody agrees, we'll lock the boss in again once and for all!" "And this time, we won't let him go!" "It's been done before and it works!" "It's the best way to keep going." "He's at home laughing at us here." "He knows we got nothing and can't go on." "Whereas his money is drawing interest." "He doesn't give a damn." "But if we lock him in, he'll change!" "In other places they had lock-ins." "The guys that did it often got into trouble." "And if they locked the boss in afterwards?" "It wasn't supported by all the workers." "But here everyone supports the idea." "They can never attack everyone who supports." "It's the union." "Please open up." "No more blah-blah!" "You've got to open up!" "You still trust 'em after what they did?" "We can at least talk." "Hell, more boring crap again!" "Comrades!" "I just spoke with the management." "Mr Boursac suddenly said he would resume negotiations." "We had no time to consult you." "Thanks to that discussion," "Boursac is making a new offer." "We think it is well worth considering." "He has made further concessions." "A 5% raise for everybody!" "One hour less a week with the same pay." "We did think his first offer was too low." "Liar!" "You said it was okay!" "We must tell you..." "Tell us how you helped with the strike!" "We think his new offer..." "We're no suckers!" "...is very good." "It's a remarkable victory." "You must reply now." "You've been on strike for 3 weeks." "You must know when to stop!" "Thanks to unity... patience... and responsibility... you have obtained satisfaction!" "Stop your spiel!" "Some of you are irresponsible!" "We didn't see 'em!" "You're the one who loused things up!" "Subversive activity may give the police an excuse." "Be on your guard, Comrades!" "The union's nuts!" "Vote as soon as possible!" "Show that you don't want to risk unrealistic action which can hinder your cause." "We suggest that you vote democratically" "by secret ballot." "By all means!" "Watch what I do to your card!" "Hey, Boursac's here!" "To hell with your offer!" "Your flunkies are gone!" "What is this?" "Get out!" "You stay till you give in!" "It'll make you think!" "I've nothing to add to my last offer!" "Don't leave him here." "We can't see him!" "Let's put him in the glass office!" "Watch how he turns in circles." "He's mad." "He don't know what's up." "He don't know where he's at." "He's having fun!" "It's a change!" "Baby likes to go round and round!" "He doesn't look happy." "Telephone, boss, telephone!" "The poor sap answers!" "You mean rascal!" "Have you thought it over?" "The bastard hung up!" ""Sad sack Boursac, sad sack!"" "Like a smoke?" "Got any cigarettes?" "We're not allowed to smoke on the job!" "Give him one anyway!" "No smoking!" "Serves him right!" "Do we get to smoke on the job?" "LOCK-IN AT BOURSAC MILL" "BOURSAC LOCKED IN BY WORKERS" "BOURSAC STRIKE CONTAGIOUS" "I want some water." "The gent wants water!" "What's that?" "The gent wants water!" "Sherry!" "He's a softie!" "Say pretty please!" ""My belly's stuffed with food and drink" ""Thank you, little Jesus!"" "I looked the place over." "I sat in the chairs." "Are they nice?" "Awful easy on the rump!" "May I use the toilet?" "Wait'll your shift ends!" "On the job, we got to wait!" "He'll bust." "Then he'll be even harder on us!" "No, things'll change!" "He's mad as hops!" "He's white as a ghost!" "You gonna bust?" "Let me use the toilet!" "Let's help a little." "We'll have to mop up!" "And clean him up." "And you clean it afterwards!" "Want a bucket?" "You'll have to use it!" "Want it or not?" "Don't be hard on him." "He's hard on us!" "It's awful painful!" "Does he let us pee on the job?" "We don't have to be as mean as he is!" "How are things?" "Going great!" "My factory's striking too, to support the girls!" "The marvelous part is that the guys didn't think the girls'd hold out." "In this area, it's terrific!" "Everyone talks about the strike!" "We're making collections again putting up posters, talking to shopowners." "At my factory, we quit work at noon and stayed outside!" "We chanted, "Stick up for the girls!"" "It'll spread, there'll be a demonstration." "I hope the boss gives in." "It'll be rough!" "It's breaking loose all over." "Are you hungry?" "Want the peel?" "We got time to eat now!" "We're used to sandwiches." "With our pay, we can't eat steak every day!" "Whereas he rakes in the dough all year!" "He can stuff his face every day!" "He knows we can't do much with what he pays us!" "You need 3 hours overtime!" "We can't buy ritzy cars!" "Without overtime, we can't buy a thing!" "We ain't got the time to fix meals!" "He's proud." "He'd rather starve than ask!" "But later he'll sing a different tune!" "Another day or two." "He'll even ask for dry bread." "He'll give in then!" "Else we'd have to feed him!" "We'll win in time." "Bananas are good!" "Toss 'im the peel!" "Go ahead!" "Go ahead!" "Pat me on the back!" "Toss it in!" "I know it ain't much, but after all!" ""Sad sack Boursac" ""Afraid things'll crack!" ""Pay us or we sack you!" ""Give and take or else!" ""We'll give you the sack!" ""You're in the sack!" ""Diehard Boursac!"" ""I sleep with Boursac" ""In my arms" ""I whisper in his ear at night" ""I tell him my little troubles" ""I sleep with Boursac in my arms..."" "I wouldn't sleep with Boursac!" "He don't work but he's worn out!" "Need a bed?" "Don't fall asleep!" "The metal-workers are for the girls!" "Workers and peasants together!" "This is the Prefect." "Can you hear me, Mr Boursac?" "Why stick your neck out?" "Why did you go there?" "Listen, I'd like to help you." "But the government refuses." "Things are getting worse." "The disease is spreading." "Alarming strikes everywhere." "For the time being, let's negotiate." "Later." "How can I send a riot squad into a mill occupied by women?" "You can imagine in case of trouble how it would be used against us." "So let's negotiate." "We'll give you the agitators' names which you may not yet know." "Don't worry." "Then later, after you smooth things over," "I know I can trust you to separate the chaff from the grain in your mill!" "But believe me, I repeat:" "Negotiate!" "We've no choice at this time." "Workers and peasants together!" "Boursac, you rat, we'll get you!" "He's to blame for our troubles!" "The girls who faint from the heat or have nervous fits." "We're not allowed to take a pee." "And for who?" "For that bastard!" "I hope the 4-day lock-in has made you think!" "Take back the girls you fired!" "Improve working conditions!" "Lower production rates!" "Give higher wages!" "Scared, eh?" "Can't take a vacation in the sun!" "Bastard!" "Skunk!" "You sent my friend to the hospital!" "Stick Boursac on the assembly line!" "You thought, "Oh, they're just women, "" "Yet we forced you to give in," "Agnes and Colette stay with us," "Now the mill is different," "We have our say now," "Your foremen aren't arrogant any more," "No more negotiation behind our backs," "You have to accept our demands," "We know you haven't got over the lock-in," "We know you'll try to fire us," "You and your press made an uproar," "You appealed to the law," "Your kind of law means a "lock-in"" "from the day girls are hired young till they end up under the daisies," "Our kind of law means justice for all," "Our law is like a knife," "You want to get rid of what you call "agitators"," "Don't forget our biggest victory is the unity we forged in the struggle with our own strength and our husbands who realized what our struggle means," "It's unity with other mills," "Our fight draws new members," "If need be, it'll draw blood," "Don't forget, the main thing is not our recent victories," "It's that we've changed our thinking," "We now have the right to talk and act, the rights you bosses always deny us so you can keep us down," "We'll fight hard for those rights, to obtain them and keep them, till the day they're not yours any more!" "Subtitling:" "Nice Fellow"