The CGT unions in the oil branch are planning strike days on January 19 and 26, as well as February 6 with "if necessary, the shutdown of refining facilities", according to a press release issued by Eric Sellini, the union's national coordinator for TotalEnergies.

The call will lead to "decreases in flow" and stoppages in the shipment of fuels, Mr. Sellini told AFP, a few months after the vast mobilization in the fall in refineries and oil depots, which caused major fuel supply difficulties in France.

The movement should begin with a first 24-hour work stoppage on January 19, the day of the national interprofessional mobilization.

For January 26, the CGT calls for a 48-hour strike, then 72 hours on February 6.

The strike is "a constitutional right", reacted the Minister of Public Accounts Gabriel Attal, guest on RMC / BFM TV.

Recalling the opposition of trade union organizations to the government's plan to gradually shift the legal retirement age from 62 to 64, the minister refuses to "summarize the situation face to face between the government and the unions" or to "an arm wrestle".

"The strike can take place without (...) blocking the country", for his part estimated the Minister of the Public Service Stanislas Guerini, invited Thursday morning on Cnews.

For his part, the President of the Senate (LR) Gérard Larcher judged on RTL Thursday that it would be "irresponsible" for the unions to "block the country" to oppose a pension reform which he considers " essential".

Pumps out of service in a service station during a fuel shortage, October 17, 2022 in Paris © Geoffroy Van der Hasselt / AFP/Archives

The appeal of the CGT Petroleum was launched the day after that of the transport unions, which promises a "powerful strike".

The previous pension reform project, during the previous Macron five-year term, had led to weeks of paralysis of public transport, at the end of 2019-beginning of 2020.

- No "predictions" -

The first test for the executive will be January 19: the eight main unions in the country have together launched a national call for mobilization and a strike for this date.

A rare unitary approach that will affect both the private sector and the public.

The pension reform project presented by the government "is both necessary and fair", assured the Minister of Public Service, stressing the unfavorable ratio between the number of contributors and that of retirees in the public service.

“Today, you have 0.87 civil servant for 1 retired civil servant”, therefore “less than one active agent for one retired”, he developed.

"We have integrated the demands of the unions", he insisted, citing the example of the reintroduction of progressive retirement for civil servants or the taking into account of the arduous nature of certain professions.

"The reform is already a compromise", supported Gabriel Attal, since it provides for retirement at 64 and not 65 as envisaged by Emmanuel Macron during the presidential campaign.

© 2023 AFP