On September 19, Sophie Binet, head of France’s largest trade union, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), warned that the country faces severe risks to its energy security during the winter months. According to her, ignoring the demands of protesting industry workers could lead to serious consequences.
“A historic strike took place last Tuesday, with unprecedented numbers of strikers in the energy sector,” Binet stated on France Inter radio. “I advise the government to listen to them; otherwise, the winter will go badly.”
The reason for the trade unions’ sharp reaction was the authorities’ intention to reduce benefits for electricity and gas payments for employees in the sector. Binet emphasized that industry specialists work under difficult conditions, recalling summer shifts on transformers and power lines at high air temperatures.
Binet noted that current measures represent an unjustified blow to energy and gas companies and called on the government to reconsider plans to reduce social guarantees in order to avoid large-scale destabilization of the energy system.
