TotalEnergies accelerates refinery wage talks as fuel supply shrinks

TotalEnergies offered to negotiate wage increases in response to union demands. The strike has caused disruptions at nearly a third of French petrol stations, and forced the government to tap its strategic reserves.

It stated that the company would advance to October mandatory wage talks if all labor representatives are in agreement and the blockades are lifted.

Initial plans were for the talks to begin in mid-November.

Union representatives said earlier that strikes organized by the CGT, a historically militant union in France, would continue. They disrupted operations at two ExxonMobil sites and two TotalEnergies sites.

France's domestic fuel production has dropped by over 60% in the past two weeks, causing nerves to be stretched across the country. As waiting lists grow and supplies run out, there have been a lot of industrial action.

The office of the energy minister stated that almost a third of France’s petrol stations experienced difficulties getting delivery of at least one fuel product on Sunday. This is up from 21% the previous day.

France has increased imports and released strategic reserves, Agnes Pannier Runacher, Energy Minister, stated in a statement. She added that this should improve the supply situation on Monday.

She spoke to BFM TV and expressed her gratitude for TotalEnergie's offer. She also stated that she expected ExxonMobil to make a move in France's Esso France unit, "so the French people aren't held hostage by this socio dispute and can go work with confidence."

ExxonMobil France didn't immediately respond to a request to comment.

PROFITS FROM WINDFALL

ExxonMobil wage talks have been ongoing for several weeks, while TotalEnergies' CGT stated that it had been trying to get management to the table sooner than the formal talks next month.

TotalEnergies workers are seeking a 10% raise starting in this year. This is after huge profits from the energy price surge that saw TotalEnergies pay an estimated €8 billion ($7.8bn) in dividends as well as an additional special dividend to its investors.

Last week, the CEO of the company stated that "the time is right to reward" employees. However, negotiations had not begun with the company.

CGT representatives stated that the union would not comment on TotalEnergie’s offer without first having internal discussions with workers and informing them.

France's largest union, the CFDT, decided not to call for strikes despite requesting a similar raise in pay. However, it stated in a statement that it was ready to begin wage negotiations in October.

Aurore Berge, head of the governing Renaissance group at the lower house, stated that workers have a right to claim a share of exceptional profits made with their assistance, but not ordinary people.

"It is unacceptable that workers stage preemptive walksouts which will strike whom?" She spoke out on Sunday about the French people who have no choice but to use their cars, and she said so to BFM TV.

($1 = €1.0266)

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