Word: settlements
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Dates: during 1960-1969
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...almost two months to the day after the murder of Martin Luther King Jr.-immediately prompted, at home and abroad, deep doubts about the stability of America. Many saw the unleashing of a dark, latent psychosis in the national character, a stain that had its start with the first settlement of a hostile continent. For the young people, in particular, who had been persuaded by the new politics of Robert Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy to recommit themselves to the American electoral system, the assassination seemed to confirm all their lingering suspicions that society could not be reformed by democratic means...
Thuy: When will the U.S. unconditionally cease its bombing and other acts of war against North Viet Nam so that these talks can go on to other matters related to a Viet Nam settlement...
Still more cause for concern is the likely inflationary impact of any settlement. The package negotiated by Premier Georges Pompidou-and rejected by most of the nation's striking workers -included an increase in the minimum wage from 440 to 600 an hour, a 10% general pay increase for all workers in private industry, a 40-hour week (v. an average 46.3 hours now), and improved social security medical benefits. That settlement would cost at least a total of $3 billion, but the strikers wanted more...
Diminishing Returns. At one point, North Viet Nam's negotiators avowed that if the U.S. unconditionally halted the bombing "and other acts of war" against the North, the talks could turn to "a political settlement of the Viet Nam problem." That offer was soon followed by a threat. "In the event that these official conversations do not end in results," warned Chief Negotiator Xuan Thuy, "the American party must bear the full and entire responsibility...
Then came the first hopeful development in the revolt. During the debate, Pompidou had gently urged that the labor leaders sit down with him to talk about a settlement. Séguy sent a message that he was ready to bargain; the leaders of the two other big unions expressed similar sentiments. The unions also formulated their demands: a 50% minimum-wage hike, a 40-hour week (v. 45 to 48 hours at present), improved medical benefits, retirement at 60 (v. 65). Such bargaining might yet lead France back into a rational, if highly inflationary, world...