AP
Strike Disrupts Output at Total Refineries
Wednesday September 7, 8:49 am ET
Strike Disrupts Output at Five of Total's Six French Oil Refineries
PARIS (AP) -- French oil company Total SA said Wednesday a strike called after four refinery workers were disciplined was disrupting output at five of its six French oil refineries.
The strike is disrupting production at Total's Normandy, Donges, Feyzin and Grandpuits refineries, at a time when Europe's largest refiner has committed to ship more gasoline to the United States to help offset outages caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Speaking at a news conference, Total Chairman Thierry Desmarest called the strike action "disproportionate."
The Communist-linked CGT, France's second-largest labor union, said it called the strike in protest against sanctions the company imposed on four employees after an incident at a refinery in Provence, southern France.
"We can't accept seeing Total putting all the blame on workers," CGT delegate Alain Gerbeaud said. "The management also bears responsibility for what happened."
An incident occurred at the Provence refinery Aug. 7, causing a mist of diesel fuel to rain down on neighboring land and houses.
The Total chairman said a company investigation had concluded that four workers were guilty of "gross misconduct."
In May, Total employees also staged a one-week strike over pay at five refineries.
(Even though the above strike ended, another strike was started Sept. 20 and continues:
http://ogj.pennnet.com/articles/article_display.cfm?Section=ONART&C=Prong&ARTICLE_ID=237583&p=7 )
Strike Disrupts Output at Total Refineries
Wednesday September 7, 8:49 am ET
Strike Disrupts Output at Five of Total's Six French Oil Refineries
PARIS (AP) -- French oil company Total SA said Wednesday a strike called after four refinery workers were disciplined was disrupting output at five of its six French oil refineries.
The strike is disrupting production at Total's Normandy, Donges, Feyzin and Grandpuits refineries, at a time when Europe's largest refiner has committed to ship more gasoline to the United States to help offset outages caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Speaking at a news conference, Total Chairman Thierry Desmarest called the strike action "disproportionate."
The Communist-linked CGT, France's second-largest labor union, said it called the strike in protest against sanctions the company imposed on four employees after an incident at a refinery in Provence, southern France.
"We can't accept seeing Total putting all the blame on workers," CGT delegate Alain Gerbeaud said. "The management also bears responsibility for what happened."
An incident occurred at the Provence refinery Aug. 7, causing a mist of diesel fuel to rain down on neighboring land and houses.
The Total chairman said a company investigation had concluded that four workers were guilty of "gross misconduct."
In May, Total employees also staged a one-week strike over pay at five refineries.
(Even though the above strike ended, another strike was started Sept. 20 and continues:
http://ogj.pennnet.com/articles/article_display.cfm?Section=ONART&C=Prong&ARTICLE_ID=237583&p=7 )