Paris (AFP)

The CGT claimed on Tuesday from AFP voluntary power cuts, "linked to the strike" against pension reform, which briefly cut power, according to the network manager RTE, tens of thousands of homes in Gironde, in Lyon, Nantes or Orléans.

In Paris, around 2,000 homes were still without electricity in the 3rd and 11th arrondissements in the early evening, after degradations committed in two stages along the route of the demonstration, according to Enedis who denounces "malicious acts".

Power cuts "are linked to the strike" and are part of "the fight" against the government project which must "take this as a first warning" because "it is exposed to more massive cuts", said Francis Casanova, CGT central union representative at RTE, manager of the high-voltage electricity network.

At the CGT of RTE, "we consider that this is not malicious. It is a way for RTE employees to show that if there is electricity in this country, it is because "They are at work every day," added Casanova.

The CGT is carrying out "these actions" because "there is no question of having an unprecedented social decline in pensions", he insisted. On Tuesday, the 13th day of mobilization, hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated against the pension reform, for the first time at the call of all the unions.

The Minister for Ecological Transition Elisabeth Borne "condemns these inadmissible acts, which are contrary to the principles of public service and have nothing to do with the exercise of the constitutionally guaranteed right to strike," said her ministry.

"Fortunately, these acts are carried out by a small minority, who are not always employees of the company," according to the same source. "The minister has assured RTE management that a complaint is systematically filed."

For his part, the secretary general of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, said Tuesday on BFMTV that "there may be unintentional cuts in some places (...) but those who are targeted are the CAC companies 40, it is the large distribution stores, these are some public buildings, prefectures, etc., in no case are we targeting citizens ".

- Complaints -

According to RTE, which denounced acts "of course illegal", nearly 50,000 homes were cut off from power in the Gironde during the night from Monday to Tuesday, then 40,000 homes in Lyon, 37,000 in Nantes and 40,000 in Orléans during the Tuesday day.

In Gironde, "there was a malicious act on two high-voltage substations (Cissac and Masquet). At the height of the cut, we had 50,000 homes cut and the last homes were refueled after an hour and a half ", had indicated RTE before the claim. The equipment was turned off without degradation, he said.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the incident occurred during the night between 12:45 am and 2:45 am at the two posts, one located in Mios, on the Arcachon basin, and the other in Cissac-Médoc. This source evoked the track of "an act of internal malevolence": "They are connoisseurs".

RTE has also reported a cut in Lyon (3rd and 6th arrondissement) and in the neighboring municipalities of Villeurbanne and Caluire Tuesday morning between 10:06 am and 10:55 am. The company counted "40,000 homes cut at the height of the cut," said a spokeswoman for AFP.

Mr. Casanova also mentioned "power cuts in the city center of Nantes". RTE confirmed that 37,000 households were affected at the height of the cut, which started at 1:20 p.m.

Finally, RTE noted an action against two substations which resulted in "the cutting of 40,000 homes in Orleans between 3:00 p.m. and 4:15 p.m.".

"If we respect the right to strike, we condemn these malicious acts," said the company. "Complaints are filed and we will implement the necessary disciplinary procedures."

Enedis, the manager of the electricity distribution network, reports on his side of "some voluntary cuts (...) today as in Cherbourg and Montluçon".

"Enedis respects the right to strike of our employees. On the other hand, the company strongly condemns the few malicious acts observed on the electrical distribution network. Each malicious act is identified with the authorities, through complaints filed", warned the manager.

sm-nal-er-jmi-cd / pn / cam

© 2019 AFP