Popular anger over rising inflation and fuel shortages in France- Protest march in Paris- See Images

by

Many unions in France — but not all — have called a day of general strike next Tuesday, which is expected to affect road and rail transport and the public sector.

Three weeks into a refinery strike that has caused fuel shortages across the country, thousands of protesters marched in Paris today, painting a picture of mounting anger over rising inflation.

Today’s mobilization is being carried out following an appeal by left-wing parties, supported by hundreds of associations.

“One can see that this movement is starting to spread,” Mathilde Panot, the parliamentary spokeswoman for Insubordinate France, told franceinfo radio station.

“You can see it in the nuclear sector. Truck drivers have announced a strike for Tuesday and many other sectors have started to join them,” he said.

Many unions in France — but not all — have called a day of general strike next Tuesday, which is expected to affect road and rail transport and the public sector.

French energy giant TotalEnergies said on Friday it had reached a pay deal with the two biggest unions representing workers at its four refineries, raising hopes for an end to strikes.

But the left-wing CGT union did not accept her, with its members continuing the protests.

“unacceptable”

Budget Minister Gabriel Atal denounced the continuation of the strike today, calling it “unacceptable”.

“Of course there is a right to strike, but at some point the country must be able to function,” he told French media.

Staff at two other refineries owned by US group Esso-ExxonMobil returned to work at the end of last week, but their operations will take two to three weeks to return to normal levels, the company said.

About a third of the country’s gas stations are experiencing supply problems, especially those in the Paris suburbs and the north, meaning drivers often wait hours in line to fill up their cars.

Many companies have reduced travel and deliveries, while even emergency vehicles are experiencing fuel supply problems.

Last week, the government called for strikes at refineries to release fuel stocks held at the blocked facilities.

This angered the CGT, which said the move was a sign of the “dictatorship” of French President Emmanuel Macron.

The huge profits of energy groups due to exorbitant fuel prices have made public attitudes favorable to the demands of workers lobbying for better wages.

However, a BVA poll released on Friday shows that only 37% of respondents support the protests.

ppp

Pension reform

Today’s protest march in Paris is taking place at the request of “Insubordinate France” and has the support of its allies — the Greens, the Socialists and the Communists.

The recently awarded Nobel Prize in Literature, Annie Hernaud, and 60 other personalities from the field of arts and public life, in turn, invited citizens to join the march through a joint letter they made public last week.

The main goal of the mobilizations is to present the demand of the workers who are struggling to manage the rise in the cost of living–inflation in the country is at 6%–but also to denounce political inaction in the face of climate change.

Police expected around 30,000 protesters to take part, with one source fearing clashes with anarchist groups who often clash with security forces on the sidelines of protests across the country.

This source, an official, said the organizers had been warned about this possibility.

The scale of protests and strikes over the coming months is likely to have an impact on the government’s ability to pass the controversial pension change.

Macron, who was re-elected in April, has pledged to raise the retirement age from 62 to 65 to bring France in line with its European partners.

But this idea is strongly opposed by labor unions and parties of the Left.

ooo

You May Also Like

Recommended for you