France prepares for day of strikes as nuclear workers join labour protests

France faced an eighth day of national strikes on the 26 May 2016 after workers at nuclear power stations voted to join protests against planned labour reforms. Blockades of oil fuel depots by angry trade unions had forced France to dip into strategic fuel reserves.

Rail services and air flights were also disrupted and fuel supplies hit.

On the 30 May 2016 France24 reported that France was preparing itself for a further week of severe disruption to transport after trade unions called for more action in their bitter standoff with the Socialist government over the labour reforms.

Protests and industrial relations disruption continued during June 2016, including during Euro 2016 football championships.

• Primary Source

BBC News, 26.05.16: French labour dispute: Nuclear power plant workers to join strike http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36385778

ESO: Background information: French PM to use special powers to bypass parliament on labour reform http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-pm-to-use-special-powers-to-bypass-parliament-on-labour-reform/

France24, 25.05.16: [Opinion]: Seeking urgent democratic reforms to unlock France http://www.france24.com/en/20160525-france-opinion-labour-law-protests-urgent-reforms

The Local.fr, 26.05.16: France hit by fresh strikes as nuclear workers join protest http://www.thelocal.fr/20160526/france-faces-fresh-strikes-as-nuclear-workers-join-protest

Politico, 24.05.16: As fuel shortages spread, Hollande faces showdown over labor bill http://www.politico.eu/article/as-fuel-shortages-spread-francois-hollande-faces-showdown-over-labor-bill-manuel-valls/

Euro|Topics: Debates, May / June 2016: Strikes and protests in France http://www.eurotopics.net/en/158916/strikes-and-protests-in-france

France24, 25.05.16: France’s Valls stands firm on labour reforms despite fuel blockade http://www.france24.com/en/20160525-france-valls-stands-firm-labour-reforms-despite-fuel-blockade

The Local.fr, 27.05.16: France is heading into a 'summer of discontent' http://www.thelocal.fr/20160527/frances-summer-of-discontent

The Local.fr, 26.05.16: A complete guide to France's (many) ongoing strikes http://www.thelocal.fr/20160525/heres-how-youll-be-affected-by-frances-upcoming-strikes

Deutsche Welle, 26.05.16: Violent clashes break out in France over labor reforms http://dw.com/p/1Iuz6

The Economist, 27.05.16: Singing the song of angry men All latest updates Violent strikes against labour reforms are causing chaos in France http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21699703-long-queues-petrol-stations-are-only-most-visible-sign-battle-over-future

France24, 30.05.16: France braced for week of transport strike chaos http://www.france24.com/en/20160530-france-braced-week-transport-strike-chaos-labour-reforms-euro-2016

The Local.fr, 30.05.16: France braced for another week of transport strikes http://www.thelocal.fr/20160530/france-set-for-transport-strike-chaos

The Local.fr, 28.05.16: French PM Valls stakes political career on union fight http://www.thelocal.fr/20160528/french-pm-valls-stakes-political-career-on-union-fight

Deutsche Welle, 01.06.16: Five numbers that explain the union fight in France http://dw.com/p/1IyIM

France24, 01.06.16: France faces travel delays, cancellations as transport workers strike http://www.france24.com/en/20160531-france-set-travel-chaos-transport-strike-labour-reform-protests

The Economist, 04.06.16: Strikes in France. Don’t cave in, Mr Hollande http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21699916-game-really-matters-political-one-not-football-dont-cave-mr-hollande

France24, 01.06.16: France’s small businesses vent fury at unions behind crippling strikes http://www.france24.com/en/20160601-france-small-businesses-vent-fury-unions-behind-crippling-strikes

EurActiv, 02.06.16: Escalating strikes in France put Euro 2016 at risk http://www.euractiv.com/section/social-europe-jobs/news/escalating-strikes-in-france-put-euro-2016-at-risk/

EurActiv, 03.06.16: French rail strike weakens but pilots call walkout during Euro championship http://www.euractiv.com/section/social-europe-jobs/news/french-rail-strike-weakens-but-pilots-call-walkout-during-euro-championship/

France24, 14.06.16: Police clash with demonstrators in Paris amid fresh labour reform protests http://www.france24.com/en/20160614-police-clash-with-demonstrators-paris-amid-fresh-labour-reform-protests

The Local.fr, 14.06.16: Paris: 'Hundreds' of masked protesters clash with police http://www.thelocal.fr/20160614/hundreds-of-masked-protesters-clash-with-police-in-paris-demo

France24, 15.06.16: French PM Valls calls on unions to stop protesting in Paris after new violence http://www.france24.com/en/20160615-france-valls-labour-reform-strikes-stand-firm

The Local.fr, 15.06.16: Time for France to ban the anti-labour law protests? http://www.thelocal.fr/20160615/time-for-france-to-ban-the-labour-protests

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