The national strike to protest pension reform got back under way in France on Thursday, with the CGT trade union calling on port and power workers, as well as those in the refinery and petrol distribution sector, to down tools in opposition to government plans to abolish special pension deals for some workers.
With the second in a planned series of nationwide strikes due next Tuesday and Wednesday, French energy, fuel and dock workers who are members of the CGT union relaunched their industrial action on Thursday.
Facilities will be closed for 48 hours, depending on the local level of support.
The CGT says the oil distribution depot in Flandre in the north of France is completely shut down, with 80 percent of workers heeding the strike call in the refinery in Normandy.
Oil imports have been blocked by strikers in some French ports, according to trade union sources. The port strikes are scheduled to last 24 hours.
Thursday's strikers have promised to "relight the flame of protest" which, according to union sources, saw two million demonstrators against pension reform across France earlier this month.
Power cuts and petrol shortages are unlikely to result from the current phase of strike action, though electricity production may have to be slightly reduced. Queues of worried motorists were forming outside some Paris petrol stations early on Thursday.
Political debate begins on Monday
The disputed legislation, which will be presented to parliament on Monday for debate, includes clauses which would abolish the special pension rights of workers, notably in the electricity generation sector.
Other contested changes include the extension of the retirement age from 62 to 64, and the obligation for workers to contribute more to the system during their working lives if they wish to qualify for a full pension.
Next week's second phase of national strike action in protest against the proposed reform is expected to close schools, disrupt public transport and cause delays in civil service offices.
Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has promised to shut the doors of the city hall on Tuesday in a symbolic gesture of support for the strikers
In addition to the series of nationwaide strikes, the CGT is organising supplementary stoppages in the energy sector.
