Published on :
There are now only 17% of service stations out of at least one fuel, according to the latest figures, compared to 20% on Wednesday October 19. Only two TotalEnergies oil sites continue the strike, including the Normandy refinery, which alone represents 12% of the country’s capacity.
After three weeks of blockage, the strikers from the Donges refinery in the west, those from the Flandres depot in the north, and those from the La Mède biorefinery in the south are back to work.
Since September 27, the mobilization has caused major supply difficulties, with a shortage peaking last week. At the worst of the crisis, nearly one in three gas stations had nothing to sell.
A situation that puts many French individuals and sectors in difficulty. Several professions are more penalized, such as farmers, caregivers, taxis, truck drivers, craftsmen or even driving schools. Not everyone benefits from the priority queues at the pump, set up by certain departments.
►Also read : Fuel shortage in France: “requisitioning is undermining the right to strike”, says Aurélien Taché
Towards a return to normal
Estimates vary according to the interlocutors, but overall, there will probably not be a complete improvement for at least a week. The requisitions of striking employees have made it possible in recent days to release fuel stocks.
And in an exceptional situation, an exceptional response: the authorization to transport fuel over the weekend is again extended until Sunday, precisely to speed up supplies.
The pressure is high on the government as the school holidays begin tonight for two weeks. The first holidaymakers are already queuing up at service stations. The executive has therefore again requisitioned employees to work on the Feyzin site, the second still on strike. A gesture that should help the entire Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, where a quarter of the stations are still in difficulty.
The Vinci Autoroutes group wants to be reassuring: it has announced that at least 90% of the service stations in its network are able to supply fuel.
Progress and blockages
We recall the initial objective of these blockages: employees are demanding wage increases in the face of galloping inflation, but also in reaction to the enormous profits made by TotalEnergies this year. More than 10 billion euros in the first six months of 2022.
In this group, an agreement was reached last Friday with the two majority unions, the CFE-C GC and the CFDT. It provides for a general salary increase of 5%. And also includes individual increases and an exceptional bonus of between 3 and 6,000 euros. A text that the CGT has therefore not signed: the union is still demanding a 10% wage increase.
For the Esso-ExxonMobil move, it was lifted last week after a pay deal was reached.
►Also read: France: the government criticizes the continuation of the strike at TotalEnergies
Strike in the nuclear sector gains ground
We have heard less about it, but the strike within the nuclear fleet is cause for concern. The movement began on September 13, and now affects 11 out of 18 plants. It leads to production cuts, delays in work and maintenance of the nuclear fleet.
The manager of the Electricity Transport Network, RTE, warns: if the social movement continues, this may have ” heavy consequences » au « heart of winter “. For the next few weeks, RTE is more moderate: the risk of power cuts or blackouts in France is low.
For its part, the CGT does not let go. The union is calling for a two-day strike on October 27 and November 10.
►Also read : France: strike for wages in nuclear power plants