French PM remains firm, faced with growing anti-reform strikes

PARIS, May 26 (KUNA) -- Faced with growing industrial action and blockages throughout France, Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Thursday vowed to stick the course with Labour Law reforms, but said there could be "improvements" or "changes" to the current legislation.
France woke up Thursday to ongoing but diminishing petrol shortages and increasing road blocks on several major arteries as unions, led by the Communist "CGT", expanded industrial action, walk-outs and go-slows in essential services.
Disruptions were reported at many of the country's eight refineries and workers were also striking at 19 of the nation's nuclear power stations, although these will not be stopped totally because of security concerns.
Asked on "BFM TV" if he would withdraw the new Labour Law that is at the heart of the dispute, Valls said "this is not possible".
While he said some adjustments might be envisaged, he categorically refused to change "the philosophy" of the labour reforms.
He accused opponents of reform of "all sorts of conservatism" and urged them to see the need to change the labour market rules here.
Meanwhile, rail transport was disrupted for a second day Thursday and mainly CGT strikers blocked three important bridges in the industrial heart of Normandy, near the key ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Cherbourg.
Le Havre is one of the biggest oil-importing ports in France, taking in 40 percent of the nation's imports and it is also a huge stocking area for oil and oil products.
Other protests sprung up around the country and strike warnings have been issued for next week by Paris Transport Authority workers and air traffic controllers.
The aim of the CGT seems to be to provoke a general strike in France, whereby the government will have to back down faced with paralysis.
A survey published by "BFM TV" showed 69 percent of French people polled wanted the withdrawal of the new Labour Law, which must still get approval in the Senate this summer.
A nationwide day of protest marchers has been called for Thursday, with major demonstrations expected in the capital and other major cities.
It is the eight anti-reform prothest on a national level and several of the marches have ended in violent clashes between hooligans, anarchists and riot police, who reported 350 injuries since the protests began. (end) jk.hb