French police clear strikers from refinery

Fuel trucks resumed business at the Fos-sur-Mer refinery on Tuesday morning after the pre-dawn police advance cleared strikers from the site. The operation came as Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned industrial action would not be tolerated, and that other pickets would be dealt with "extremely firmly."

"Enough is enough," Valls told Europe-1 radio. "I'm very determined."

Days of blockades at refineries and fuel depots have led to major supply problems for petrol stations across France. Union organizers have vowed to continue striking until the government agrees to drop a raft of controversial labor reforms.

"We'll see this through to the finish, to withdrawal of the labour law," said CGT union leader Philippe Martinez. "This is a government which has turned its back on its promises and we are now seeing the consequences."

Controversial reforms

The French government's reforms relax some labor protections and amend the rules governing the work week and overtime pay. Lawmakers say the changes will boost employment and create jobs, but unions argue they could erode workers' rights.

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest since the reforms were announced three months ago, while unions are threatening to bring production to a standstill at all of France's eight refineries.

So far, more than 1,500 petrol stations across the country have experienced fuel shortages. Panicked car owners, meanwhile, are flocking to fill up their tanks in anticipation of further supply problems. French media reported Tuesday that some drivers were crossing the border into Belgium to buy petrol there.

The CGT has also announced plans for strikes on the state railway, and on the Paris underground and suburban train network from June 2 - just one week before the Euro 2016 soccer tournament kicks off.

nm/kms (AP, Reuters, dpa)