Euro 2016 Tournament Threatened by Strike Induced Petrol Shortages

The highly anticipated Euro 2016 tournament is just days away, yet instead of crowing a collective “Allez les Bleus” the nation is on the brink of industrial turmoil. As well as terrorist threats and flood damage, France is facing a looming risk of industrial action against employment law reforms.

This would put a definitive downer on the national mood, with strikes, blockades and violent demonstrations expected to kick off across the country. With fuel depots set to be bombarded by picket lines, concerns over possible petrol shortages have materialised as a very real threat.

Could CGT trigger a fuel deficiency?

Leading the national strikes is France’s oldest and largest union, Confédération Générale du Travail (CGT). The group is determined to have the new laws hung out to dry, and Euro 2016 isn’t standing in their way. The ferocity of clashes between police and protesters has shocked the nation, and there are fears that the situation will only worsen as France gears up to host the high profile sporting event.

France on the brink of a national industrial crisis

The tournament is just about to kick off, yet CGT is organising picket lines across the country. From ports and power stations to fuel depots and railway yards, the ‘mouvement social’ is gaining rapid traction. Not only are the nation’s fuel supplies at risk, but analysts warn that France could face electricity cuts, public transport strikes and national days of action. Even Air France pilots are on-board, with the aviators announcing new strikes for general pay and conditions.

While Prime Minister Manuel Valls has accused the CGT of blackmailing the nation, the group’s national secretary maintains that the goal is not to sabotage the tournament.

“We’ve been demanding the government withdraw this law for three months, long before the Euros, so it’s clear we’re not blackmailing them over the tournament. If they had agreed to negotiate, we would not be in this situation. But Euro 2016 will not stop us from continuing our movement,” Fabrice Angei commented in an interview with the Observer.

Paris desperate to save face

With around 8 million fans set to converge on France for Euro 2016, a national fuel shortage would be catastrophic. Strikes would take a serious chunk out of the £970 million worth of business the tournament is expected to generate, as well as jeopardise the Parisian bid for the 2024 Olympics.

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