FRANCE: The Discontented Turnkeys

France's 7,000 jailers were proud of their posts but dissatisfied with their rewards. The question was: How does a jailer go on strike? Last week, in 120 prisons throughout the country, they found a way. They went on a sit-in strike.

They kept a conscientious watch on the murderers, thieves and other criminals who were their wards, and they released term-enders on schedule. But they refused to admit new convicts, barred lawyers from seeing their clients, and would not deliver up jailed defendants to court for trial. Visiting hours were canceled, rock-breaking ceased, and in their cells prisoners enjoyed a relaxed if fettered vacation. The Paris police prefecture, which handles a big transient traffic in felons, found itself overwhelmed with unwanted undesirables.

Cops set up a makeshift 600-bed dormitory to shelter the meaner criminals, gave temporary freedom to lesser lawbreakers.

At the end of three days of this, the harried government agreed to consider the jailers' demands for better uniforms, bonuses for nightwork, and a raise to 35,000 francs ($100) per month. Leaders of five unions called off the strike. Everybody felt relieved at the splendid way the prisoners had behaved throughout: nobody tried to escape.