The implementation of the ultimatum will not take long. Tuesday, October 11, faced with the persistent strike in fuel stations and depots which has been causing shortages and huge queues for more than ten days, the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, pronounced the sentence hated by the unions: requisition. “A salary disagreement does not justify blocking the country”, thundered the Prime Minister from the National Assembly, announcing the requisition of the personnel necessary to unblock the Esso-Exxonmobil depots, and stressing that the threat could also apply shortly to the TotalEnergies group.
The warning had been given the day before. On Monday evening, following a crisis meeting held at Matignon between Elisabeth Borne and the ministers concerned, Agnès Pannier-Runacher (energy transition), Gérald Darmanin (interior) and Clément Beaune (transport), accompanied by ‘Olivier Véran, spokesman, the government had mentioned the idea of resorting to requisitions. Despite pressure from certain ministers and part of the opposition castigating the “shit” and government disorganization, the Prime Minister had then temporized. “The government has not had a shaking hand. But we gave a chance to social dialogue, also to explain to the French where the blockages came from ”assures Clément Beaune.
In the morning, the situation seemed, in fact, on the verge of unraveling. A wage agreement had been reached between the management of the Esso-Exxonmobil group and the majority unions, suggesting a gradual release. At TotalEnergies, management promised to open negotiations. Alas, a few hours later, the CGT and FO repudiated the agreement at Esso by announcing the continuation of the strike movement, also renewed at TotalEnergies. “Some of the organizations, despite this agreement, want to continue the blockade. We can’t accept it.” released Elisabeth Borne in the Hemicycle, hoping that the unions of Total will seize ” outstretched hand “. “Failing that, the government will act again to unblock the situation. (…) Everyone must take their responsibilities, the government will take theirs. she warned, insensitive to words spoken a little earlier on Franceinfo by Emmanuel Lépine, Secretary General of the National Federation of Chemical Industries of the CGT. In the event of requisitions, “cit would be war, he warned.
Situation monitored “hour by hour”
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