Grandpuits: Total strikers vote for the blockade of the refinery

“We have only one lever left: no longer to take over.

Now, there will no longer be any replacement of staff in post.

No one comes in anymore!

This is the conclusion at the microphone of Adrien Cornet, CGT delegate of the Total refinery of Grandpuits, this Friday, at the end of the general assembly of employees held on the picket line.

At the end of this third week of walkout, the situation gets even harder on the spot.

It even seems to get bogged down now.

Faced with management's refusal to hear them in order to amend the organization of the future biofuels and bioplastics plant that the refinery will become by 2024 in accordance with the Galaxy project, the employees of the plant have again decided to continue their renewable movement initiated on January 4.

They therefore also spoke out against taking over from existing employees, for blocking shipments of refined products and against access by subcontractors to the site.

At first, the strikers had however voted to let the subcontractors work, in particular those responsible for setting up preparatory scaffolding for the Grand Regulatory Stop of March 15.

Indeed, Wednesday, they had first voted against all work on the site.

Adrien Cornet (CGT) denounces the "manipulation" of management

But at the insistence of these subcontractors, who had gone on the picket line on Wednesday and again this Friday to make their voice heard and their distress heard, the strikers reconsidered this decision, more precisely in what concerns work related to safety and the environment, as well as certain scaffolding.

And this, out of solidarity between workers.

Because after its degassing instructions given at the end of December, Total is still showing its willingness to complete the shutdown procedures launched in mid-November.

The oil giant has therefore asked companies, Siemo and the latter's own subcontractor, to set up scaffolding for this purpose.

"We see your manipulation, up there, screams Adrien Cornet in the direction of the administrative building of the refinery.

We're not morons.

If we are there, it is because of you!

Pitting ourselves against each other, it does not work here!

The employer's strategy, we do not bite into it.

It's ugly, it's dirty and it doesn't surprise me about you!

"

"The management of the refinery took note of the vote during the general meeting"

The strikers then invaded the administrative building to bring their demands to the director of the refinery.

But according to our sources, their vehemence, as well as the camera of Permanent Revolution, a militant media which has followed the strikers since the beginning of the movement, were not to the liking of Jean-Marc Durand, the director.

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The latter then immediately put an end to any exchange.

Hence the final reaction of the strikers.

"I do not know what the direction is looking for, except that it ends badly, decrypts David Picoron, another CGT delegate.

Letting the situation rot is a great first for Total.

Management has just put 84 guys (Editor's note those from Siemo and his subcontractor) on the floor from Monday.

"

Once again, Total specifies that, despite the situation, the company will continue to ensure supplies to its network of service stations and to its customers.

With maybe some disruption.

"The management of the refinery took note of the vote during the general assembly, carried by the CGT, of the non-resumption of preparatory work for the Great Shutdown, also responds Total.

Management specifies that work related to safety and the environment is continuing.

The latter indeed meet the rules in terms of safety.