French refinery workers stage sympathy strikes

Workers at all six of France's Total oil refineries kicked off a two-day strike on Wednesday in support of 370 colleagues who face redundancy at a Dunkirk plant bosses have earmarked for closure.

The Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT) union reported that more than 95 per cent of workers were on strike in the refineries and that all depots had been blocked off.

Bosses admitted that the walkout had disrupted production, but claimed that they had "taken measures to ensure there is no significant impact on customer supply."

Total, which made a net profit of $2.8 billion in the fourth financial quarter, also said that 80 per cent of its fuel storage depots in France were affected by the strike.

Hundreds of workers are occupying the Flanders refinery near Dunkirk, which bosses shut down in September.

Staff at the facility, who have been on strike since January 12, vowed last week that they would seize control of the plant if the company failed to re-start work by February 15.

On Tuesday they made good their pledge, marching onto the site and breaking into administrative offices before allowing the plant director and other executives to leave.

Union activist Marc Pigeon said: "What we want is for someone from the top management of Total to give us clear answers about the future of the plant."

Benjamin Tange, who has been working at the plant for eight years, added: "We wanted to send a symbolic message to Total management and to the other refineries to show our determination."

CGT member Davis Calbet emphasised that they were prepared to "stay in these buildings until we have received job guarantees."

Mr Calbet emphasised that the workers "don't want more blah-blah-blah - we won't budge until we have a response" and vowed to "protect our equipment" during the peaceful direct action.

Total employees are set to hold a mass meeting today to decide whether to extend the 48-hour strike action.

Elsewhere 200 employees of industrial maintenance specialist Isotherma rallied in Le Havre on Tuesday to demand two months of pay they insist is owed to them.

Isotherma was snapped up by investment firm Bernard Krief Consulting in 2008 after it filed for bankruptcy.