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26 July, 2005
French workers of ExxonMobil are waging strike actions and manifestations against the US energy company’s decision to close worksites, and make redundant thousands of workers. Backed by five unions, including ICEM affiliates belonging to CFDT and CGT-FO, 80% of all French ExxonMobil workers are engaged in stop-work actions from 11- 19 May. Despite record profits with each passing financial quarter, the world’s largest energy company is following its plan to shut multiple French worksites, affecting hundreds of jobs.
Unionised workers themselves took the initiative for the actions, and a refinery at Fos was shut off 13-14 May, while another refinery at Dunkirk was stopped 12-14 May. Last week prior to a two-day stoppage at the Port Jerome Seine-Maritime centre, all 700 workers of the facility staged a defiant manifestation. Actions are ongoing at nearly all the company’s French operations: Esso, SAF, Mobil, ExxonMobil Chemical and Noroxo.