EMEA News
French Strike Disrupts Ports
A 24-hour strike disrupted the operations of most of France's ports on Thursday, Reuters reports.
At the nation's main oil hub, the Mediterranean port of Fos-Lavera, five refined products tankers and one crude tanker were held up in the port, while three other product tankers were stopped outside the port.
Some ship arrivals at Le Havre were rescheduled to avoid the strike.
The CGT union called the nationwide action in protest of the ongoing effects of a 2008 port reform that privatised some port jobs.
"All in all 85 to 90 percent of activity has been blocked today in France," said Tony Hautbois, head of the CGT's port section.
"With the port reform we were promised better days, more traffic and new jobs," he said.
"In reality, our jobs and our working conditions are being called into question."
Oil products traders said the strike had little impact on the market because of its short duration.
In November, Greek strikers disrupted activity at the port of Piraeus as part of a protest against austerity measures.
