REFINERY STRIKE. The CGT Petroleum is calling for a new strike on January 26 for two days of mobilization. After the January 19 movement, could this lead to a shortage of gasoline? Response elements.
[Mis à jour le 20 janvier 2023 à 15h30] The call to strike was particularly followed on January 19, 2023, with 1.12 million people mobilized according to the Ministry of the Interior. From now on, the eyes are riveted on the new day of mobilization of January 31st. Until then, refineries are expected to be shut down for one day on January 26. This Thursday, already, most refineries had between 70 and 100% strikers. “Everywhere, shipments have been suspended,” rejoiced Eric Sellini, national coordinator of the CGT for TotalEnergies. For his part, Benjamin Tange, union official at the Flanders depot, said: “It’s a movement that is well followed, it gives momentum, strength and courage for the future.”
But this action is considered insufficient for trade unionists in the sector. Thus, Alexis Antonioli, secretary general of the CGT TotalEnergies Normandie, hammered home the need for “a conscious and constructed plan, which aims for maximum impact on the economy”. So, what to expect from this day of the 26th? It will certainly be harder this time, since the strike notice runs over two days (January 26 and 27). On those days, the refining facilities could therefore be shut down, if the employees follow the call of the CGT oil.
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. For the moment, three dates have been set, including the past strike of January 19:
- 48-hour strike, January 26
- 72-hour strike, February 6
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. 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 once again lead to 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.