Strike action and unplanned maintenance have taken more than 60% of France's refining capacity offline, causing long queues at French service stations.
The French government has ordered some fuel depot strikers back to work, risking a bigger row with unions as it tries to secure petrol supplies.
The French energy ministry said it was requisitioning a number of staff at the Gravenchon-Port Jerome depot run by Exxon's Esso France business, where the hardline CGT union remains on strike despite a pay deal with other unions. The industrial action has hit refining and delivery, and comes as unions seek wage increases to help workers deal with surging inflation and a cost of living crisis.
Although the right to strike is enshrined in the French constitution, the government can requisition a minimum number of staff needed to sustain a service in certain circumstances.Government spokesman Olivier Veran said the situation had become"unbearable" and the requisitions should lead to a"very marked improvement... in the coming days".
He warned that the government could also requisition staff at the TotalEnergies depot in Dunkirk, northern France, where the CGT is also on strike.
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