LABOR DISTURBANCES AT DECIN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A004500900008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2007
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: August 23, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500900008-8
cEN1 L INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information `meeting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.B.C. Sees, 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of Which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is proms
by law.
CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL-U.S.OFFICIATS ONLY
COUNTRY
DATE OF INFQ .
PUACE AC -Y _ED
63871-5
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 23 August 1954
NO. OF PAGES 2
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORTA
E DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
1. At thsend of March 1954, a further reduction in the prices of various goods and
foodstuffs took place in Czechoslovakia,
in all enterprises and factories introduced hthe~'slogan:"Westhank the Government
for reducing the prices--.we are hardening they.norms." This slogan was supposed
to have been.aspontaneous.expression of gratitude but in actual fact was forced
upon the majority of the workers by Ca?munist trade, union officials who were
acting on the:.nstructions of the Communist Party. The action caused a great
deal of discontent among the workers as they felt that the reduction. of prices
was largely counterbalanced 1 - the new norm rulings.
29 The workers in the area of Deoin'and Usti nad Labem were trying to resist th
"hardening of norms" but in most oases had to capitulate and accept. The e
following incident illustrates how the "hardening of the norm" process was carried
out in the Deoin area.
3. At the Deoin quays about 40 workers are employed,, none of whom had ever made any
suggestion about "hardening the norms." About 1April 1954 they were informed
that six workers from the Prague-Holesovi.0e Harbor would be working with them
for some time to gain experience. The leader of the Prague well known as an ardent C g group was Horak (fnu),
or gradual
the other Prague workers were also either? C.Pcimbers workers
funoitioonnarfies, out that
4. At this
particular time they were unloading iron ore in Deoin Harbor, and the
unloading no r i:ate was Bas. 4.10 per ton, The Prague workers, after about three
days, suggested hardening the norm and making it Kos. 3.90 per ton. The Deoin
workers strongly opposed this and refused to accept it.
quarrels between the Prague and, Deoin workers,' and relationThis led to c
s were veryostrained,
5. On the morning of 20 April 1954, the water level was low, and unloadink was there-
fore more difficult since the craft could not reach the bank, The Deoin group,.
CONFIDENT IAL/CONTROL-U.S.OP?ICIALS ONLY
itiL-i
E, Washington ell ribution indicated by FA1d dINilbutlon by
"#"?1
Czechoslovakia
La sturbances at Decin
Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500900008-8
 Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500900008-8
CONFIDtMAL/CONTROL-U.S ` `FICIALS ONLT
went to see the manager of the quay, Vondrich and demanded a 10% increase
in wage rates, which was justified and usual underthose water conditions.
Vondrich refused their demand,'stating that the Prague group were still working
for'Kee. 3.90. Thereupon 16 Decin workers, led by Korinek (fnu), went back to
tho Pague group and started an argument which led to a fight. Vondrich called
out 4e harbor workers militia., but only two of the militia men turned up out
of s:1 They tried to stop the fight but clearly appeared to be on the Decin
workers? side'...`
6. About noon.tbe,orkers were still arguing, and the manager therefore called the
local 5NB co randant and also the director of Decin Harbor. The commandant came
along with another SNB member and talked to the Decin workers, trying to calm
them and telling them to carry on with their work or they would suffer the con-
sequences. This attitude was not very favorably received by the.Decin workers,
and a, violent quarrel ensued between Korinek and the SNB commander. Finally the
director of the harbor, Frant .sek Klimes, who is a former bargeman and very
popular among the workers, arrived; he promised the Decin group that their demand
would be considered and appealed to them to carry on working. At about 2 p.m.,
all returned to work.
CONFID TIAL/CONTROL U.5.OF'FICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA004500900008-8