In addition to Total employees, several trade unions announced that they will join the general labor confederation’s call for an interprofessional strike.
According to Pak Sahafat News Agency‘s report on Monday from the French newspaper “Le Figaro”, Despite the agreement that was signed between the employer and the representatives of the employees in the “Total Energy” company, the strike did not end and other unions have also said that they will join the interprofessional strike call of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) (Tuesday).CGT
An agreement to increase the wages of energy sector workers was signed on Thursday night with the two largest unions of Total workers, but the strike continued in three refineries and five large fuel depots owned by Total.
Referring to the similar situation and the announcement of a strike in nuclear power plants and the launch of a protest movement in these sectors, this report added: Nine nuclear sites have been affected in the past two days, prompting the French power company (EDF) to further delay the start-up of five reactors.
The harsh tone of the government towards the strikers
This report, pointing out that the threat of widespread unrest has taken a serious form, wrote: In a statement, the government called the continuation of the strike and blockage of fuel reserves “unacceptable” even when the wage agreement has been reached.
The government is also touting further intervention in the form of confiscating fuel stocks to force workers back to work as opposed to what it calls “taking the French hostage” as a way to defuse the current tense atmosphere.
It is against these threats that the General Labor Confederation chose Tuesday as a nationwide mobilization in favor of “salaried workers and the right to strike” and demanded the participation of all unions and employees.
Le Figaro newspaper wrote: Although this call quickly gained the support of the confederation’s traditional supporters, including labor unions and several student organizations, this time other unions announced their readiness to join the protest.
Philip Martinez, Secretary General of the Labor Confederation, in an interview with the news channel “B. F. M” called the government’s recent action in forcing the striking employees to return to work “pouring oil on the fire”.
Previously, the French Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne, referring to the agreement reached in the multinational company “Esso-ExxonMobil”, ordered the return of the company’s employees to the workplace, using the government’s legal tool to intervene in certain circumstances.
Signs of the spread of protest
From Thursday, dock workers announced their readiness to join Tuesday’s protest. Also, service sector employees in three sectors (government, regional and hospital) also participate in this program.
Public service unions, through the General Labor Confederation, are defending the right to strike, defending wage demands and rejecting the pension reforms that Emmanuel Macron’s government is trying to implement.
Tuesday’s protests can bring with it the support of the employees of the transportation sector. As the truck drivers have announced, they will join the movement in solidarity with the struggle.
Le Figaro also mentioned the possibility of a disruption in the bus schedule as a result of public transport workers’ unions joining the plan tomorrow and added: “The subway workers’ union is not going to strike.”
The French railway company (SNCF) has also announced that it will join the strike on Tuesday. Disruption in rail transport, along with the problem of overcrowding at gas stations, can cause a serious problem for employees to come to work tomorrow.
Fabian Volodion, a representative of the railway company’s union, told AFP: The strike of this sector will start on Tuesday and may continue until Friday.
Jean Le Melenchon, one of the political figures against the government and the organizer of the demonstration yesterday (Sunday), in protest of the high cost of living and the government’s inaction on climate change, announced: Today and on the first day, a public demonstration will be held. The second day is the day of Article 49.3 of the Constitution and the third day (Tuesday) is the national strike day.
Article 49.3 of the Constitution allows the government to approve a bill or a proposal without seeking the votes of the representatives. Its use requires the immediate suspension of debates in the National Assembly. The text then goes to the Senate. It is said that this principle is one of the government’s tools for approving amendments to the pension law, which has many opponents in the parliament.
While France is preparing for protests and a new round of strikes, Elizabeth Bourne said in an interview with “T. F.1 asked the strikers to return to their workplaces. He also announced that the discount of 30 cents on fuel will continue until the middle of November.