Over 100 refinery workers broke into the offices of a Total SA plant in Dunkirk, France, on Feb. 16 and occupied the main administration building. The workers have been on strike since Jan. 12 in response to the proposed shuttering of crude processing operations at the plant. One union activist stated, “We will occupy the building for as long as necessary to get an answer about our future.”
Total is one of the world’s six largest oil companies and supplies half of France’s petrol stations. The Dunkirk facility employs over 800 workers.
On Feb. 17, workers at all Total oil refineries in France called a 48-hour solidarity strike. Over 95 percent of workers at the company’s six plants walked out. Signaling a deepening resolve amongst workers, the next day the strike was extended indefinitely.
Management has cited decreasing demand and shrinking profit margins as reasons for the plant’s closing. In 2009, Total reported over $15 billion in profits. (money.cnn.com)
