Strikers shut down Marseilles-Fos, Le Havre oil facilities face closure
CONTAINER shipping has been hit by a total shutdown in Marseilles, with Le Havre dockers threatening to shut off oil imports.
Thousands of dockers have poured into the square in front of the city hall in Le Havre, setting off smoke bombs throughout the area, reported London's Daily Telegraph.
Union members at a major oil terminal Le Havre plan to block imports to protest against the labour legislation that makes workers easier to fire, reports The Association Press.
Leading the strike is the Confederation generale du travail union (CGT), supported by six other unions including Force Ouvriere and the Union Nationale des Etudiants de France (UNEF).
The one holdout, the Confederation francaise democratique du travail (CFDT) union, backs the government's labour reforms.
A two-day port strike in France is adding to the trouble with union inspired fuel shortages caused by stoppages at unionised distribution depots and oil refineries.
At Marseilles, striking dockers have shut down the container terminal at Fos. Five containerships bound for Marseilles have "modified their itinerary", reported Lloyd's Loading List.
It is understood a similar situation in occurring at France's other main container gateway, Le Havre, where last week 70 port calls were impacted by strike action.
Aljazeera reports workers are angry at the French government's moves to make it easier for companies to hire and fire. Employees at oil refineries and all but three nuclear power stations have joined protests.
Workers say the labour reforms, said to be designed to reduce unemployment have been pushed through without a parliamentary vote, and favour bosses over workers.
Riot police battled protesters in Paris and other cities, making 77 arrests, while 15 officers were injured and cars and shops were vandalised.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls insists the reforms will not be withdrawn but has suggested they could be "modified"
A state of emergency imposed after November's deadly attack by militants from the so-called Islamic State group in Paris remains in place.
An increasing number of French service stations are reported to be running out of fuel despite the re-opening of a second major distribution depot that had been picketed by protesters.
The government has given assurances that the country has reserve supplies in hand while six of France's eight refineries have either stopped production or are operating partially because of striking workers, according to Lloyd's Loading List.
Managing director of UK-based Birds Transport & Logistics, Patrice Schneider, said: "I had a driver who had to fill up in a place not accepting our fuel cards and had to pay with his own credit card. "
Meanwhile, there are reports that industrial action is also affecting a pipeline near the Port of Le Havre that supplies jet fuel to the Paris airports. However, it is not yet clear whether there is a real threat of airlines running out of fuel.
CONTAINER shipping has been hit by a total shutdown in Marseilles, with Le Havre dockers threatening to shut off oil imports.
Thousands of dockers have poured into the square in front of the city hall in Le Havre, setting off smoke bombs throughout the area, reported London's Daily Telegraph.
Union members at a major oil terminal Le Havre plan to block imports to protest against the labour legislation that makes workers easier to fire, reports The Association Press.
Leading the strike is the Confederation generale du travail union (CGT), supported by six other unions including Force Ouvriere and the Union Nationale des Etudiants de France (UNEF).
The one holdout, the Confederation francaise democratique du travail (CFDT) union, backs the government's labour reforms.
A two-day port strike in France is adding to the trouble with union inspired fuel shortages caused by stoppages at unionised distribution depots and oil refineries.
At Marseilles, striking dockers have shut down the container terminal at Fos. Five containerships bound for Marseilles have "modified their itinerary", reported Lloyd's Loading List.
It is understood a similar situation in occurring at France's other main container gateway, Le Havre, where last week 70 port calls were impacted by strike action.
Aljazeera reports workers are angry at the French government's moves to make it easier for companies to hire and fire. Employees at oil refineries and all but three nuclear power stations have joined protests.
Workers say the labour reforms, said to be designed to reduce unemployment have been pushed through without a parliamentary vote, and favour bosses over workers.
Riot police battled protesters in Paris and other cities, making 77 arrests, while 15 officers were injured and cars and shops were vandalised.
Prime Minister Manuel Valls insists the reforms will not be withdrawn but has suggested they could be "modified"
A state of emergency imposed after November's deadly attack by militants from the so-called Islamic State group in Paris remains in place.
An increasing number of French service stations are reported to be running out of fuel despite the re-opening of a second major distribution depot that had been picketed by protesters.
The government has given assurances that the country has reserve supplies in hand while six of France's eight refineries have either stopped production or are operating partially because of striking workers, according to Lloyd's Loading List.
Managing director of UK-based Birds Transport & Logistics, Patrice Schneider, said: "I had a driver who had to fill up in a place not accepting our fuel cards and had to pay with his own credit card. "
Meanwhile, there are reports that industrial action is also affecting a pipeline near the Port of Le Havre that supplies jet fuel to the Paris airports. However, it is not yet clear whether there is a real threat of airlines running out of fuel.