FRANCE: Some French refineries start fuel deliveries and unions stand firm at others

Record ID: 572618

  • Title: FRANCE: Some French refineries start fuel deliveries and unions stand firm at others
  • Date: 27th October 2010
  • Summary: GRANDPUITS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 26, 2010) (REUTERS) TOTAL OIL TANKERS LEAVING UNDER POLICE GUARD REFINERY UNION FLAGS OUTSIDE REFINERY FIRE BURNING STRIKING WORKERS FLAG UNION OFFICIAL MOHAMMED TOUIS IN OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (French) UNION OFFICIAL, MOHAMMED TOUIS, SAYING: "The situation today is that we are continuing our strike. One hundred per cent of workers are on strike. This movement will continue depending on whether we see a solution by Friday morning or not. There are still eight refineries in France where there are blockades. Even if our goal is not to create a shortage, we are still in a situation where there are two refineries which should restart but not for another five or six days or even ten days, they won't meet national needs. So we are still holding a blockade and we expect to stay here for at least another 15 days and sadly there is still a shortage." TANKER LEAVING REFINERY
  • Embargoed: 11th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Domestic Politics,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA8ZEHCX9S1I8PSV4H8R3D1UTEX
  • Story Text: Workers at a key French oil refinery on Tuesday (October 26) vowed to continue striking against the government's plans to reform the country's pension scheme.
    Despite union members remaining at the entrance to the Grandpuits refinery near Paris, a number of tankers were able to leave.
    "This movement will continue depending on whether we see a solution by Friday morning or not. There are still eight refineries in France where there are blockades. Even if our goal is not to create a shortage, we are still in a situation where there are two refineries which should restart but not for another five or six days or even ten days, they won't meet national needs. So we are still holding a blockade and we expect to stay here for at least another 15 days and sadly there is still a shortage," said union leader, Mohammed Touis.
    This comes as the Economy Minister announced on Tuesday (October 26) that long running strikes would not affect the government's 2010 growth forecast.
    Deliveries have restarted from four of France's dozen oil refineries, the CGT and CFDT unions said.
    Petrol shortages continue to affect small businesses and motorists queuing at pumps.
    ENDS.
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