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French labour dispute: Energy supplies hit by strike action | |
(35 minutes later) | |
France is braced for further disruption to its energy supplies as workers at oil refineries, nuclear power stations, ports and transport go on strike. | |
But in a sign of the growing pressure on the government, PM Manuel Valls said the labour reforms at the heart of the dispute could be "modified". | |
Motorists have been panic buying fuel, some petrol stations struggled to get supplies. | |
France is due to host the Euro 2016 championships in two weeks time. | |
Union disruption was expected to take place at: | |
Orly airport in Paris has cut flights by 15% and a rolling strike by train drivers is expected to further disrupt regional and commuter services. | |
The unions have also called for rallies in most major cities. | |
CGT union member at nuclear power plants voted on Wednesday to join the strike. | |
Nuclear power provides about 75% of the country's electricity. Grid operator RTE said nuclear power capacity was being cut by at least four gigawatts - equivalent to 6% of the country's total production capacity - on Thursday, Reuters news agency reports. | |
Meanwhile, the French Union of Petroleum Industries says a third of France's 12,000 petrol stations are running dry. | |
It said the government had begun using its strategic fuel reserves, which analysts say will last around four months. | |
Transport Minister Alain Vidalies has said 40% of petrol stations around Paris are struggling to get fuel. | |
President Francois Hollande told ministers on Wednesday that "everything will be done to ensure the French people and the economy is supplied". | President Francois Hollande told ministers on Wednesday that "everything will be done to ensure the French people and the economy is supplied". |
As the union action ramped up on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Valls said that although the new labour laws would not be withdrawn, "there may still be changes, improvements". | |
There has been no reaction from the CGT union, which has led the way with the action. | |
It was enraged by the government's decision to use a constitutional device allow its watered-down labour reforms to be made into law without parliamentary approval. | |
The government says the reforms, which make it easier for companies to hire and fire staff, are needed to bring down unemployment. | The government says the reforms, which make it easier for companies to hire and fire staff, are needed to bring down unemployment. |
French labour reform bill - main points | French labour reform bill - main points |
Are you in France and affected by the strikes? Are you a worker taking part in industrial action? Or are you about to travel to France and concerned about how the strikes will affect you? Please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | Are you in France and affected by the strikes? Are you a worker taking part in industrial action? Or are you about to travel to France and concerned about how the strikes will affect you? Please get in touch. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |