Doris Leblond
OGJ Correspondent
PARIS, May 23 -- A workers' strike that idled five of six Total SA refineries in France May 16 ended May 20 following 8 hr of negotiations between management and four trade unions (OGJ Online, May 20, 2005).
Full production is expected to resume by midweek, a Total spokeswoman told OGJ, depending on the complexity of restarting some facilities.
Total conceded all trade union demands, the main one being a future freeze of "Pentecost Monday"—a former holiday with pay that the government had declared a working day without pay in aid of the elderly and infirm. Total will fully assume the government payment, give workers an extra paid day off in 2005, and pay them for 4 of the 5 strike days.