Strike action drags on at several French refineries, with a third now running out of fuel. On Tuesday, the government followed through on its threat and demanded workers from fuel depots run by Esso.
French Prime Minister Elisabeth Bourne on Tuesday announced a demand by workers from the Esso-Exxonmobil group to free up fuel depots.
A pay deal was reached with unions representing the majority of workers on Monday evening, but it was not enough to end the more than three-week strike.
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In recent days, from the north to the south of France, the same scenes have been repeated: closed stations, endless queues, rising prices and motorists at the end of their tether.
A strike at refineries and fuel depots that began in late September to demand higher wages has led to fuel shortages at about 30% of the country’s service stations, according to the latest figures from officials.
>>Read More: Strike movement at TotalEnergie and ExxonMobil renewed at refineries
“Unacceptable”
When there are negotiation proposals, they should be taken up. Otherwise, it’s not a strike to get results, it’s simply a blockade of the country, which is unacceptable,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire declared earlier in the day.
“If the CGT categorically refuses to engage in this discussion, we have no choice but to demand the necessary means to release the deposits and operate the refineries, because our comrades cannot be victims of the collateral.”, he added.
Continuation of strike
At TotalEnergies, employees voted “with a large majority for the continuation of the strike” on Monday morning, CGT’s Eric Cellini announced.
On the Esso-ExxonMobil side, the two French refineries are not refineries, despite the signing of a wage agreement the day before by the two majority organizations at group level, at the invitation of the FO and CGT unions.
Eric Cellini vowed that if demanded, “we will go to court to cancel them”, while Esso-ExxonMobil’s CGT condemned the “questioning of the right to strike”.
Unions highlight the super profits made by oil groups, which have benefited from rising prices linked to the war in Ukraine. Total Energies made a profit of $10.6 billion in the first half.
>>Read More: Profits of oil groups renew the debate about their profits
Tired motorists
However, many motorists and some leading industries condemn this situation.
In Lille, the only gas station still open on Monday was hit. “It’s been three days and I can’t stop looking at the application for fuel and I see almost nothing. I even thought about going to Belgium,” testified Clara, a nursing student.
In some southern departments (Var, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), fuel sales must be limited to 30 liters at all service stations. The aim is to “allow as many people as possible to refuel” and avoid overcrowding at stations.
“Saving is creating scarcity,” he said, calling on citizens to “civicize and be responsible” to ensure everyone’s needs are met.
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