Strike action begins at TotalEnergies sites in France

LONDON (ICIS)–Union workers at several TotalEnergies sites across France initiated industrial action on Tuesday, with a company spokesperson stating that the firm is attempting to continue to supply its customers and service station network.

Workers at sites including Carling, Feyzin, Grandpuits, Flandres, Le Havre are understood to have begun strike action, expected to last for three days, following calls from union CGT for walkouts across TotalEnergies’ network of sites to negotiate for higher salaries.

TotalEnergies’ Donges site is not currently on strike, according to the spokesperson.

“In anticipation of the strike, TotalEnergies has taken the necessary logistical measures to be able to supply its service station network and its customers normally,” the spokesperson added.

The move comes ahead of a proposed country-wide general strike called for by CGT for 29 September, to push for wage increases in France to reflect the rate of inflation, which stood at 5.83% in August.

Industrial action is also understood to be continuing at ExxonMobil’s Gravenchon and Fos-sur-Mer, also linked to the level of salary increase offered this year for workers in the country. ExxonMobil had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

The industrial action in France is the latest to break out in Europe after operators at two the UK’s key ports also downed tools late last month in a push for salary rises to be more closely reflect the level of inflation.

Front page picture: A protester holds a trade union flag during a demonstration in Marseille, south France, on 22 September
Source: Denis Thaust/SOPA Images/Shutterstock