France's Total workers continue strike, no impact on production

08 September 2010 11:30  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS)--Strikes are continuing at two of Total’s refineries, but no significant impact on production was expected, a spokesman for the French oil and chemicals major said on Wednesday.

Workers at the Donges and Grandpuits refineries voted to extend their strike until 9 September after a nationwide 24-hour industrial action ended.  

Four of Total’s refineries in France, apart from Dunkirk, were on Tuesday operating at minimum capacity due to a strike to protest planned pension reforms, but were now back to normal operating rates, said Michael Crochet-Vourey.

Deliveries were blocked during the 24-hour industrial action, but had now returned to normal, he added.

There have been four one-day strikes in France since March in protest against a new bill that aims to raise the retirement age to 62 from 60.

France's president Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday that he would ask his government to make some amendments to the pension reform bill to make special exceptions for those who start work at a young age and for physically demanding jobs.

However, he said he would not back down on raising the general retirement age to 62 in 2018.

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By: Hilde Ovrebekk
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