French oil giant TotalEnergies reported that fuel deliveries at the company’s facilities in France have been suspended. 64 percent of refinery workers are on strike today.
Two of Esso’s refineries were also affected by the strikes.
– The strike started everywhere. Deliveries from all refineries have been banned this morning, says Eric Cellini, coordinator of the French trade union CGT. This was reported by the news agencies AFP and Reuters.
CGT was at the forefront of similar actions last fall. This eventually led to gas stations running out of fuel.
Today’s French unions aim to freeze most of society. And they warn that the strikes today will be the most comprehensive so far.
Stans: Passengers are waiting for the late trains this morning.
Photo: Benoit Tessier/Reuters
It will also strike many employees on public transport. Significant delays are expected throughout the day.
Teachers are also expected to leave their classrooms today.
A burning pension issue
This is another protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s pension reform plan.
Need: President Emmanuel Macron says pension reform is necessary to be able to maintain the pension system.
Photo: LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP
This means that French workers must work an additional two years before they can retire at the age of 64.
Pension reform was central to Macron’s election campaign last year. The government says the changes must be made to prevent the pension system from falling into deficit within a few years.
– President Macron said last month if we want to continue with this system, we have to work longer.
The reform proposal is now up for debate in the National Assembly.
Strong resistance
But opposition is strong both in parliament and among people on the streets.
Agence France-Presse writes that nearly two out of three French people support the protests against pension reform. This is according to a new survey.
Involved: Police officers in a city in the northern part of the country are taking part in the strike. The banner read “All United in Anger”.
Photo: Samir Doumi/AFP
“They’re right to strike,” says Ali Toure, a 28-year-old construction worker waiting for a late train at a station outside Paris.
Police expect up to 1.4 million people to take part in demonstrations across France today.
On January 31, 1.27 million people took part in the largest protest march to date, according to official figures.
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