While hundreds of thousands of people marched in the streets this Tuesday, January 31 to demonstrate against the pension reform project, the energy unions had already ” fixed the sequel “, Before the start of the demonstration, explained this Tuesday morning Fabrice Coudour, federal secretary of the National Federation of Mines and Energy-CGT (FNME-CGT).
The federation is thus calling for a strike on February 6, 7 and 8. to be at the same time as the federations of ports and docks, chemical and petroleum industries and railway workers “, explains the trade unionist. ” We are convinced that the mobilization will be stronger today than on the 19th. But whatever the numbers of the day, we are already convinced that we will continue the mobilization until the withdrawal of the reform project. “, he adds. Same story on the side at TotalEnergies.
« The crucial moment will be next week “, assured AFP Eric Sellini, coordinator for TotalEnergies. Several federations of the CGT, as in energy or chemistry (refineries), have already affirmed their desire to register the movement in time, even if it means hardening it. New strikes are already to be expected from Monday to next Wednesday in the refineries, in the middle of the school holidays which will have started on February 4 for zone A (which includes Lyon and Bordeaux).
« This is where we will see if the switch is made or not, if the employees are ready to follow us on the watchword of renewal “, explains Eric Sellini. And to add: We are almost convinced that if there is no significant impact on the economy, there will be no change in the government’s course of action. ».
A strategy the opposite of that of the CFDT.
For the time being, the strike at TotalEnergies was followed on Tuesday by 55% of the workforce on the morning shift (against 65% on January 19), according to management. The CGT had, after the shift changes at midday, 90% of strikers at the Normandy refinery, 85% at that of Donges near Saint-Nazaire and 50% strikers at the Flanders depot.
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The energy sector presents itself as the spearhead of this social movement. Employees of the Electricity and Gas Industries (IEG) branch are particularly affected by this reform because its adoption would lead to the abolition of their special pension scheme. This allows, in certain cases, early departures to take into account the arduousness of the professions. The calculation of the pension is also made on the basis of the salary of the last six months of the employee’s career.
Production cuts and targeted cuts
The mobilization, very important in the companies of the sector on January 19, has been maintained over the last ten days. In recent hours, it has been illustrated by a drop in electricity production of 3,000 megawatts (MW) cumulatively between 4 p.m. yesterday and today in the early morning. That is the equivalent, in power, of three nuclear reactors. ” There are still many pickets in the production plants this morning, but no drop in load because RTE [le gestionnaire du réseau de transport d’électricité, ndlr] sent safety messages early on due to a tight balance between electricity supply and demand. We were very quickly bridled », explains Fabrice Coudour. ” The night and morning shifts were mostly strikers », confirms Virginie Neumayer, union representative of the FNME-CGT.
In addition to the nuclear power plants of Paluel (Seine-Maritime), Gravelines (Nord) and Saint-Alban (Haute-Garonne), the reductions in production also affected the coal-fired power plant of Cordemais (Loire-Atlantique) and the power plants operating gas stations located in Martigues (Bouches du Rhône), Blénod (Meurthe et Moselle) and Bouchain (Nord).
In the Lot et Garonne department, the strikers also turned off several road cameras as part of an operation ironically called “Energy sobriety”, by the CGT, in reference to the sobriety plan unveiled by the government in the fall. During the day, targeted power cuts could also target the offices of local elected officials supporting the pension reform project. On January 19, two cuts were recorded in Massy (Essonne) as well as in Chaumont (Haute-Marne).
Actions “Robin Hood”
For several days, the strikers have also claimed to be carrying out so-called ” Robin Hood “. This is to make energy consumption free for certain public services, such as hospitals and schools, and certain small businesses “strangled by the energy crisis”, argues Fabrice Coudour. Very concretely, it is a technical act which makes it possible to cut off the metering of the energy consumed.
In the Lot et Garonne again, the communication of the Linky meters has thus been cut off, indicates the CGT. And this, thanks to the substitution SIM cards from 170 hubs “, explains the union. ” These cards were sent by mail to Elisabeth Borne “says a press release.
For individuals, ” we practice recoveries,” specifies the federal delegate. ” Contrary to what the government claims, individuals see their electricity supply contracts cut during the winter break because some alternative suppliers are circumventing the law and disguising termination requests »he laments.
Expected delays in maintenance work
Beyond these targeted actions with immediate consequences, strikes in the energy sector could lead to delayed difficulties on the security of electricity supply. Indeed, the mobilization of employees against the pension reform is delaying maintenance work carried out on various nuclear reactors. ” Some slices will not be able to return to the network as plannedwarns Virginie Neumayer. The slightest disruption to maintenance schedules has medium and long-term repercussions”, she adds. The situation of the electrical system “does not allow us to fall behind in the maintenance program”alerted, for its part, RTE during its last monthly update, on January 18.
At EDF, the rate of strikers at midday was 40.3%, against 44.5% at midday on January 19. Engie, for its part, announced 34.3% of strikers among its IEG employees at midday.