Availability of oil, electricity and train services were hit in France on Thursday as workers at nuclear plants decided to join the ongoing strike being observed by CGT, the leading national trade union, against labour reforms passed by the European country recently. Employees of 16 of the 19 nuclear plants in the country joined the workers of oil refineries and railways in the strike on Thursday.
The labour reforms, which will enable easier hiring and firing in public sector jobs, have sparked violent protests in the world's sixth largest economy. Union activists have blockaded oil refineries in the country, reducing the availability of fuel, TIME reported.
On Thursday, workers of nuclear plants joined the protest, affecting electricity output. However, there will be no blackouts in the country that is heavily dependent on nuclear power for electricity generation, Reuters reported.
"We are not going to change the bill because then we would not be able to reform the country," Prime Minister Manuel Valls was quoted as saying by TIME.
The secretary general of CGT union, Philippe Martinez, however said, "We are determined to take this to the end, to have the labour law repealed."
Strike in oil refineries sent the government tapping its "strategic oil reserves," BBC reported. At least 40 percent of France's fuel stations were facing shortages, Transport Minister Alain Vidalies was quoted as saying by BBC.
Lag in transport services is also expected as strikes continue to be observed by railway and other workers. High speed TGV rail services, regional and commuter trains were hit on Wednesday as train drivers refused to operate them.
Workers in France have until now had a greater job security, which would be snatched by the recent reforms. Similar reforms were recently imposed in Spain and Italy to bring the economies out of recession.
