09/02/2021
Protesters have clashed with French police outside of Total’s head office in La Defense, Paris as striking employees and climate activists accuse the oil giant of jettisoning jobs while failing to protect the environment.
Employees of the Grandpuits refinery, who have been striking for five weeks following the announcement that the plant would be converted into a ‘zero oil platform’ with the loss of more than 700 jobs, were joined by climate activists and Greenpeace protesters on Tuesday.
Videos from the scene show protesters battling with police, while activists cover Total’s HQ with posters and slogans.
🔴Les forces de l’ordre bloquent les raffineurs qui ont essayé d’accéder à la Tour Michelet Total. #Total #grandpuits #TotalGrandpuits pic.twitter.com/WnfSzESxKf
— Charles Baudry (@CharlesBaudry) February 9, 2021
Action des grévistes de la raffinerie de #Grandpuits devant la tour #Total à La Défense. @greenpeacefr vient rejoindre l’action. Les forces de l'ordre repoussent une tentative pour rentrer à l’intérieur du siège. pic.twitter.com/jbtxpMWSKZ
— Xenia__Sputnik (@XseniaSputnik) February 9, 2021
Some posters bore the message “700 jobs threatened versus 7 billion dividends” – a reference to Total’s decision to write-down billions of debt in 2020 in a move that did not impact share prices for its investors.
Paul Feltmann, elected CGT union (General Confederation of Labor) representative for the Grandpuits refinery, told RT France: “Total will cut jobs, ours! It is their plan to cut jobs that will impact 200 direct jobs and 500 indirect jobs.”
Published at www.azerbaycan24.com
