French unions are set to call off a planned week-long strike and blockade of six Total refineries. After crisis talks with the company’s management in Paris, the union says it has won Total’s commitment not to shut down any more French refineries. There will also be no loss of jobs at the one refinery which will close.

Charles Foulard, a senior union official said:
“We had to get to the point at which we were threatening France with fuel shortages before the Total group – which makes billions in profits – finally made proposals and commitments, after nine hours of negotiation.”

This agreement could end the strikes that has already caused fuel shortages in over 200 petrol stations around the country and sparked panic buying.

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