Pension reform: transport, oil refineries, scavengers… mobilization news

The 49.3 announcement revived social anger with blockades and strikes that continue in Paris and several French cities against pension reform. Several trade union representatives in the transport and energy sectors also warned against possible “excesses” or “individual actions” of rank-and-file employees. Le Parisien sums up the main events held this Friday in various sectors.

The ring road of Paris is partially blocked

Early on Friday morning, protesters invaded the ring road of Paris. They briefly gathered on the tracks at the Porte de Clignancourt. Two other “filter dams” were also installed at Porte de Montreuil and Porte d’Italie at the request of the CGT Paris.

The action was reported by CGT Paris: “Against government lockdowns, lockdown points are multiplying,” she points out in a press release. The departmental union of the CGT of Paris declares that it “intends to multiply strikes in companies”, recalling that the next day of inter-union mobilization will take place on Thursday, March 23rd.

Checkpoints in several regions

Several blockages have taken place in Brittany against pension reform. In Rennes, demonstrators set up trash cans at a roundabout, blocking traffic until 9 a.m., Ouest-France points out. The unions are also calling for a demonstration from 11 am in the center of Rennes along the usual route.

In Brest, demonstrators are also blocking roundabouts north of the city, according to France Bleu. A filter dam is also being built on two lanes of the national 24th road between Rennes and Lorient, the local radio website specifies. Another violation, filtering dams are also installed in Bourges and Vierzon, in Cher. Roadblocks still stand in the Ardennes, especially on the A34 and the Marne.

Transport

In Île-de-France, RATP is planning normal metro, bus and tram traffic for this Friday, but RER lines B and D will remain interrupted (with one train out of 2 and 3 trains out of 5). Similarly, disruptions on some TGV lines should be noted: on average, 2 out of 3 trains run on the TGV network of Inoui and Ouigo. Interruptions in public transport should also be expected in other cities in France. So, in Clermont-Ferrand, because of the strike of employees, neither the tram nor the bus runs.

Shares in refineries

The TotalEnergies refinery in Normandy, where employees are on strike but deliveries continue, “will be shut down” from this weekend, Eric Sellini, CGT coordinator at the oil group, has already announced. “Employees have raised their voices” and “the main units will start shutting down from tomorrow,” so “usually the refinery will be shut down this weekend or Monday at the latest,” he said.

In addition, the Donges, La Mède and Esso refineries in Fos-sur-Mer are still on strike, the CGT spokesman added. In Foz, “deliveries are sporadic,” he added at France Bleu.

Garbage collectors are still mobilized

The requisitions of the striking Parisian garbage collectors began this Friday morning. “Today, this morning, this requisition works and allows you to collect these garbage cans,” Gerald Darmanin told RTL. At the same time, the CGT’s “waste management” sector agreed to extend the strike “until at least Monday, March 20.” »

Lockdowns in some regions continue, for example, in the Saint-Brieuc agglomeration, in Côtes-d’Armor. Garbage collectors have been blockading the technical waste center in Ploufragan since 5 am this Friday.

Locked down schools

According to France Bleu, secondary schools are also on lockdown this Friday morning, as they are in Clermont-Ferrand. Also in Lille, students installed a filter dam on the Pont de Bois campus of the University of Lille. The dean sent out an email to all students to announce the closure of the site for that day. Classes have been postponed.

Energy sector mobilized

About fifty employees have been occupying the EDF plant in Gap in the Hautes-Alpes since Thursday morning in protest against the reform. No vehicle can enter or exit the depot, which is completely blocked, local BFMTV channel points out.

In the Seine-Maritime, a filter dam has been organized at the Paluel nuclear power plant, where, according to France Bleu, every fourth reactor has been shut down. Workers at the Penly plant, located on the English Channel coast near Dieppe, also occupy the plant.