The paralyzing strike at France's Mediterranean oil ports of Fos-Lavera and Marseilles continued for a 25th consecutive day Thursday, with port authorities reporting that 69 vessels carrying petroleum-related cargoes were offshore waiting to unload. That overall total was unchanged from Wednesday but up from earlier in the week.
Workers at the ports' oil terminals have been striking to protest a number of issues ranging from President Nicolas Sarkozy's state pension reforms, to local pension issues, and from planned port reforms to working conditions.
In separate actions, unions have shut down production at the nation's oil refineries, contributing to oil supply problems at the country's gasoline stations. And over the past two days, police have forcibly evicted protesters who have been blockading 20 fuel depots even though they aren't employed there.
The port authorities said Thursday that 15 crude oil tankers and 14 vessels carrying finished petroleum products are waiting outside Fos-Lavera, with 18 crude oil tanker and five product tankers off Marseilles. The remainder are chemical and butane/propane gas carriers. In addition, 13 ships are stuck at quay side, the port said in a statement.
Fos-Lavera feeds the country's oil pipelines, and as a result, directly or indirectly supplies six refineries in France and one in Switzerland.
Workers at the ports' oil terminals have been striking to protest a number of issues ranging from President Nicolas Sarkozy's state pension reforms, to local pension issues, and from planned port reforms to working conditions.
In separate actions, unions have shut down production at the nation's oil refineries, contributing to oil supply problems at the country's gasoline stations. And over the past two days, police have forcibly evicted protesters who have been blockading 20 fuel depots even though they aren't employed there.
The port authorities said Thursday that 15 crude oil tankers and 14 vessels carrying finished petroleum products are waiting outside Fos-Lavera, with 18 crude oil tanker and five product tankers off Marseilles. The remainder are chemical and butane/propane gas carriers. In addition, 13 ships are stuck at quay side, the port said in a statement.
Fos-Lavera feeds the country's oil pipelines, and as a result, directly or indirectly supplies six refineries in France and one in Switzerland.