Workers gather in front of Total refinery in western France as pension reform protests continue
Record ID:
1451065
Workers gather in front of Total refinery in western France as pension reform protests continue
- Title: Workers gather in front of Total refinery in western France as pension reform protests continue
- Date: 2nd January 2020
- Summary: DONGES, FRANCE (JANUARY 2, 2020) (REUTERS) UNION MEMBERS GATHERED OUTSIDE TOTAL REFINERY UNION MEMBERS WALKING ON ROAD UNION MEMBERS GATHERED CGT TOTAL DONGES LOGO ON JACKET OF UNION MEMBER
- Embargoed: 16th January 2020 15:25
- Keywords: Total pension reform refinery blockade strikes unions
- Location: DONGES AND PARIS, FRANCE
- City: DONGES AND PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001BUHBHVR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Around 200 workers demonstrated in front of the Total refinery in Donges, western France, on Thursday (January 2), as nationwide strikes against pension reforms, particularly in the transport sector, entered their 29th day.
Total employees, joined by railway and port workers and local civil servants, mostly from leftist unions CGT and Force Ouvriere, demanded a withdrawal of the government's reform project.
The CGT union has been at the forefront of industrial action against President Emmanuel Macron's proposed overhaul of France's retirement system, with strikes crippling train services for over three weeks.
Unions are planning to ramp up action next week when negotiations with the government resume.
A CGT representative at Donges said the union had voted for a blockade at the Donges refinery from January 7 to 10, France Television reported.
The workers' strike at Donges has already affected supplies at the refinery, which is unable to produce fuel until January 4, local radio France Bleu reported.
Macron said in a New Year's Eve address that he expected his government to reach a compromise quickly with unions on the reforms, but without departing from principles laid out by ministers.
(Production: Stephane Mahe, Michaela Cabrera, Johnny Cotton) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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