The Matignon Agreements of 1936
To mark the 90th anniversary of the Matignon Agreements, the French postal service dedicated a block of two stamps to this historic event, in the series " Great Moments in French History" . The two stamps were designed and engraved using the intaglio technique by Nicolas Bical.
In June 1936, France experienced a period of profound social unrest. Following the Popular Front's victory in the legislative elections, numerous strikes broke out across the country, often accompanied by factory occupations. The new government, led by Léon Blum, quickly sought a solution to end the crisis.
On the night of June 7-8, 1936, representatives of employers and the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) met at the Hôtel Matignon in Paris, under the auspices of the government. The agreements notably included the recognition of freedom of association, the election of employee representatives, the development of collective bargaining agreements, and significant wage increases.
The agreements were quickly followed by landmark social legislation. The work week was reduced to 40 hours, and employees were granted two weeks of paid vacation. For millions of French people, these reforms profoundly changed daily life and symbolized a new place for workers in society.
The Matignon agreements thus became one of the great symbols of the Popular Front of 1936, associated with the idea of social progress and the first holidays accessible to the greatest number.
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