Storengy's strikers, which is a subsidiary Engie, are demanding wage increases to offset inflation. They threatened Friday to slow down filling gas stocks, on which the government plans to go without Russian gas next winter.
Frederic Ben (CGT Engie union representative) stated that the pickets had decided to reduce the flow of injections in the storages. According to Mr. Ben, this action began at the beginning of the afternoon at Chemery (Loirt-Cher), near Blois.
To deal with the consequences of Russia's invasion in Ukraine, the government has asked for the national gas storage capacity to be filled to "nearly 100%" by early fall.
The trade unionist stated that if filling operations are stopped, restarting could prove difficult because "the workforce will fall drastically due to departures from vacation".
He said, "We just finished our general meeting on all sites."
Management was to meet remotely on Friday afternoon. CGT wants a monthly increase in agents' salaries of 300 euro. Management has also offered an annual bonus of 500 euro. Management declined to comment immediately.
Ben stated that the officers were fed up and ready to give up on trying to manage the situation. On Friday, 10 French underground gas storage facilities in Storengy were blocked by pickets. According to the CGT, "There is no company operating, nothing is being done except injection into some sites which were partially available," said Ben. These actions "undermine the filling of storage next winter," he believes.
This strike was part a larger movement in the electricity/gas industries for wages. Employers responded by proposing an agreement, which the four representative branches unions refused to sign on Wednesday, that provided for a 1% increase in wage. Basic national and 400 euro bonus.
