France faced an eighth day of industrial action on Thursday after workers at nuclear power stations voted to join protests against labour reforms. Blockades of fuel depots by angry unions have forced France to dip into its fuel reserves, reports FRANCE 24.
CGT energy and mining federation spokeswoman Marie-Claire Cailletaud said the strike action at nuclear plants will reduce power output, but that the reactors will not stop running.
"One cannot just turn off a nuclear plant, it is not like a thermal or hydro plant," Cailletaud said.
The union said late Wednesday that 16 of France's 19 nuclear stations had voted to join the strike, although CGT official Jean-Luc Daganaud said the effect on power supply would depend on how many workers decided to join the action.
Workers led by the powerful CGT union have blocked oil refineries across France over the past week in protest against planned changes to France's cherished protective labour laws, leading to fuel shortages in parts of the country and long queues of cars at near-empty petrol stations.
The Ufip oil industry federation has confirmed that around a third of the country's 12,000 petrol stations were running dry. France has also mobilised its emergency fuel stocks for the first time since 2010 but officials said there was no risk of a shortage.
France has nearly four months of fuel reserves and President François Hollande told a cabinet meeting on Wednesday that "everything will be done to ensure the French people and the economy is supplied".
The controversial reforms are designed to address France's famously rigid labour market, with the socialist government arguing it will encourage businesses to start hiring again.
Hollande has staked his reputation on bringing down the country’s stubbornly high unemployment rate, stating that he will not run for re-election in 2017 if he does not succeed.