French labor seems intent on making everything in the country go awry, with the latest concern over fuel causing angst throughout the nation.
Transportation is likely to get a lot tougher in the coming days in France unless something is done to stop workers in various parts of the country from striking and protesting. The ongoing protests of the country’s austerity plans, which would raise the retirement age in France from a very low 60 years of age to 62 – which would still be among the lowest in the world – has created havoc in the country. Among the latest concerns is the fact that all 12 French fuel refineries were on strike.
In addition, many fuel depots are being blocked by protestors, with police being called in to force open at least three depots that are crucial to the country’s functioning. The French Ecology Ministry released a statement noting that fuel supplies were secured through Tuesday, but beyond that it is not clear what would happen. French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau has authorized oil companies to use reserves in the wake of trucking companies complaining that they were unable to find fuel.
Noted French citizen Bernard Martin, a 60-year-old retiree, "When the government says there will be no shortage, it means there will be a shortage. Since this morning, there is no more diesel fuel." To the casual American observer, it would appear that France’s low retirement age seems to somehow make people overly touchy about what the government does, and does not do, for them. In a country where labor already is set up to be overpaid for doing work that requires little skill, it appears that many still want more, and are unwilling to concede anything in the process. Noted Christian Coste, head of the CGT Union in France, "the protests are an attempt to say stop abusing the workers and citizens. We are not here to bring France to its knees and create a shortage, we are here to make ourselves heard." Mission accomplished Christian. Now…get back to work (if you’ve not retired already).
In addition, many fuel depots are being blocked by protestors, with police being called in to force open at least three depots that are crucial to the country’s functioning. The French Ecology Ministry released a statement noting that fuel supplies were secured through Tuesday, but beyond that it is not clear what would happen. French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau has authorized oil companies to use reserves in the wake of trucking companies complaining that they were unable to find fuel.
Noted French citizen Bernard Martin, a 60-year-old retiree, "When the government says there will be no shortage, it means there will be a shortage. Since this morning, there is no more diesel fuel." To the casual American observer, it would appear that France’s low retirement age seems to somehow make people overly touchy about what the government does, and does not do, for them. In a country where labor already is set up to be overpaid for doing work that requires little skill, it appears that many still want more, and are unwilling to concede anything in the process. Noted Christian Coste, head of the CGT Union in France, "the protests are an attempt to say stop abusing the workers and citizens. We are not here to bring France to its knees and create a shortage, we are here to make ourselves heard." Mission accomplished Christian. Now…get back to work (if you’ve not retired already).
| By Buzzle Staff and Agencies |
No comments:
Post a Comment