Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Strikes and protests in France continued on Tuesday, with trade unions launching a nationwide strike and calling for growth of wages.
The announced strike will largely affects public sectors and presents an extension of earlier industrial action that affected France’s refineries and fuel supply, according to Reuters reporting on Tuesday.
Unions noted that the government is forcing some workers to return to work at fuel stations, stressing that this jeopardises the right to strike and expressing hope that the move will motivate workers to join protests and strikes.
Olivier Véran, French Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and Citizen Participation, announced the possibility of more requisitions of staff and pointed out that vehicles are queuing at petrol stations.
“There will be as many requisitions as deemed necessary… blocking refineries, when we have reached an agreement on wages, this is not a normal situation,” he concluded.
Negotiations with unions
While more moderate unions reached an agreement with energy company TotalEnergies, including bonuses and a wage increase of 7%, the left-wing CGT called for more walkouts.
The union pointed out that the company is boasting very large profits, demanding pay increases of 10% for the workers.
Strikes have spilled over to France’s energy utility EDF, with union representatives noting on Monday that industrial action was causing delays in maintenance of 13 nuclear reactors in 10 power plants.
Unions of civil servants announced plans to join strikes on Tuesday, which would cause disruptions in schools as well as other public institutions.
Élisabeth Borne, Prime Minister of France, noted on Sunday that strikes have erupted at a sensitive time as the government prepares to adopt the 2023 budget using special powers that allow it to bypass the parliament.
Citizens and groups announced protests over rising prices in all parts of France, with thousands protesting against inflation in Paris on Sunday.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing party France Unbowed, took part in protests on Sunday and called for a general strike today.
The tense social situation presents one of the most difficult challenges for French President Emmanuel Macron since he was re-elected in May this year.
