The labor union representing workers of French oil major, Total SA , is pushing for a nationwide strike on July 2 to register its protest against a plan that calls for stoppage of fuel processing operations at the La Mede refinery.

Located in southern France, the La Mede facility has been out of operation for nearly three weeks after 15 workers of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union walked out on June 11, according to a company spokesperson. Negotiations with labor unions, on the plan for La Mede, are underway, the spokesperson said.

By pushing for a nationwide strike, the labor union aims to protest against the predetermined “death” of crude oil refining operations at La Mede, CGT said in a statement on Monday, Bloomberg has reported. The union has also urged for the blocking of service stations owned by Total across France on every Thursday for the next couple of months.

Total has plans to transform the La Mede facility into a biofuel production plant, the company said in April, as the plant’s refining operations are unprofitable. The company is looking to reduce its refining capacity in Europe, according to Bloomberg.

In order to transform the La Mede plant into a biofuels facility, Total plans to invest 200 million euros ($223 million). Once completed, the new facility will have a production capacity of 500,000 metric tons per year, according to Total. Crude oil refining activities will stop by the end of 2016, the company said. After the La Mede plant has been transformed, the country will have only seven crude oil refineries left, compared to 24 refineries in 1977.

In 2010, a strike prompted the shutdown of Total’s facility near Dunkirk.

Source: www.bidnessetc.com

Please leave comments and feedback below