French utility EDF expects strike ahead of national action

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EDF 2023 half-year results presentation in Paris

The logo is seen prior to the presentation of the French state-owned utility EDF 2023 half-year results in Paris, France, July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing Rights

PARIS, Oct 11 (Reuters) – French power group EDF said some of its workers were going on strike from Wednesday night before a national strike on Friday, when walk outs are expected across the country to demand improved pay, pensions and working conditions.

The strike action should be limited to the energy production sector on Thursday, while national action is planned on Friday for transport workers, teachers and other professions.

Previous strikes at EDF have cut several gigawatts of power supply from nuclear and hydro power plants, but the total outages can vary.

The strike is expected to have very little impact in the power market, Kpler analyst Emeric de Vigan said, adding there was currently ample supply to meet demand and the weather was expected to remain warm in France until the weekend.

French power union FNME-CGT posted a strike notice on social media platform X calling for a national basic salary indexed to inflation. A representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the expected size of power outages.

CGT union representatives at ExxonMobil (XOM.N) and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) said there was no planned action for their group during the strike, but workers were encouraged to join the rallies.

“The impact on work should be limited,” the CGT representative at TotalEnergies said.

Over the last year, strikes at the French ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies supply depots and refineries have limited fuel supply in the country, sometimes causing petrol pump shortages.

Reporting by Forrest Crellin
Additional reporting by Benjamin Mallet Editing by Christina Fincher, Sharon Singleton and Mark Potter

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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