While the FNIC-CGT announced a first day of strike in the refineries on January 19, some motorists are filling up with precautionary gasoline resulting in shortages in certain stations.
“If you are all going to fill up, we will not be able to follow”, warned Olivier Gantois, spokesman for the oil industry, warning motorists going to fill up with precautionary gasoline. On France info on January 16, the latter wanted to send a message to all those who fear a shortage: “We will be able to supply the stations normally, whatever the consequences of the social movement”, he declared. In recent days, drivers have been increasing the pressure on service stations in anticipation of the first 24-hour strike on January 19 announced by the CGT Pétrole de TotalEnergies.
Since this announcement, some gas stations have been affected by shortages of certain fuels. As reported France Blue, this Monday, January 16, nearly 4% of them lacked gasoline or diesel. A figure for the moment low but higher than the ordinary rate. Some departments are more affected than others, such as Yvelines, where the shortage rate rises to 18%. Agnès Pannier-Runacher tried to reassure motorists indicating that stocks had been replenished since the last crisis last fall when refineries were shut down. She added, however, that the executive was monitoring the situation “with the greatest vigilance”.
Vigilance will be needed because in unison, the unions warn that “oil workers will be present in the fight”. The FNIC-CGT wants to fight the pension reform, deemed “illegitimate” and “unacceptable”. The union has proposed to finance pensions to “solicit profits, in particular from multinationals”. The letter also called on the French to remain critical of future government announcements to “discredit” the movement. The union denounces the working conditions in which the workers operate: “Oil workers suffer hardship, night shifts, exposure to hazardous materials, with a shortened life in the end; they refuse to work longer to force-feed the shareholders”, a denounced the union.
Is a gasoline shortage possible again?
For the moment, the union only mentions a stoppage of the refineries “if necessary”. Eric Sellini, CGT coordinator of the TotalEnergies group, warned that these strikes would lead to “decreases in flow” and “stops in the shipment of fuels” as reported France info. In an attempt to reassure the French concerned, the Minister for Energy Transition warned on the same channel that “stocks exist, they have been replenished since the fall movement”.
The government recalled that the right to strike and the right to demonstrate were constitutional, but that it was important “not to penalize the French”, warned the Prime Minister.
When do strikes take place?
The FNIC-CGT press release warns that these strikes, if followed, will affect all production sites but also distribution. So far three dates have been set. The mobilization could spread because the strike is “renewable” and although the stoppage of the refineries is not envisaged for the moment, the union warns that it could if the movement gains momentum.
- 24-hour strike, January 19
- 48-hour strike, January 26
- 72-hour strike, February 6
The latest refinery strike, which had immobilized many motorists last fall, had lasted several weeks to demand better working conditions and a wage increase. This new action by the unions could lead to further disruption for motorists. For the moment, these days of strikes are staggered over time and should not have the same impact as in 2022. However, the blocking of refinery sites is a hypothesis considered by the CGT.