Strikes threaten energy supply in France, across the country tens of thousands join third round of mass protests against the government

RT
Tue, 07 Feb 2023 13:39 UTC

© Getty Images / Anadolu Agency

A nationwide strike against a proposed pension reform in France is jeopardizing the country's power and fuel supply, France 24 reported on Tuesday.

Electricity supply in the country was down by 3.7 gigawatts as output dropped at two nuclear reactors and several thermal plants, the media outlet reported, citing data from power provider EDF. No disruption was reported at hydraulic power plants, but EDF posted a strike notice for Thursday.

Meanwhile, French refineries also reported trouble due to the walkouts, with TotalEnergies saying they were causing interruptions in the shipping of petrol products. However, the company rushed to assure consumers that no shortages have so far been recorded at fueling stations, and that supply levels were largely satisfactory.

A spokesman for the CGT union told Reuters there were delivery disruptions at the Donges, Normandy, Feyzin, Oudalle, and Flanders refineries, with roughly 75% of staff on strike.

The French government presented its pension reform plan earlier this month, which will raise the retirement age for most French workers from the current 62, the lowest in the EU, to 64, and increase the total number of years people must work in order to qualify for a full pension.

Polls show that the majority of the population, over 60%, oppose the reform, and French workers' unions claim the changes will punish people who started working at a young age or have been working in physically demanding jobs.

Comment: AP reports:

Tens of thousands marched in the cities of Nice, Marseille, Toulouse, Nantes and elsewhere, as well as in Paris. Protesters in the French capital, many of whom were young, marched from the Opera area across the city carrying placards reading "Save Your Pension" and "Tax Billionaires, Not Grandmas."

Note that over a million people were recorded at the first mass strike and protest, the second had over 2 million, and it remains to be seen how many were in attendance this time but it too seems to be equally massive, with protesters even more determined than ever:

Footage from the protests:

Translation:

FLASH - Burning barricades have been erected near the university #Rennes2 , where students are mobilized against the pension reform plans ( witnesses)

Clashes break out in the demonstration against the pension reform in Paris. The police make arrests.

See also:

• France rocked by protests as 2 MILLION march against government reforms in 2nd wave of mass strikes to hit this month
• Strikes disrupt shipments at several oil refinery sites in France