Work is gradually resuming in French nuclear power plants after the agreement reached with EDF management for wage increases. The strike began on September 13.
Article written by
Published
Reading time : 1 min.
After refineries, nuclear power plants: lhe management of EDF and the unions have reached an agreement to resume work in the power stations which were on strike. LEmployees actually get upgrades in turn. Their mobilization had made less noise than that of the employees of the refineries but it was very real: up to 12 plants affected out of the 18 in France. The first employees to return to work last Friday are those of Gravelines where the most powerful power plant in Western Europe is located.
The increase of 200 euros minimum per month for all claimed by the CGT as a condition to stop the movement is acquired. An amount reached thanks to the accumulation of measures negotiated at the level of the professional branch of the electricity and gas industries. In detail, EDF management is offering a general salary increase of 2.3% from the beginning of next year, 5% for low salaries up to supervisors and individual promotion measures with bonuses of 2,600 euros. Management is offered a 2.5% increase plus bonuses, the amount of which remains to be finalized.
The unions have until Thursday, October 27 to decide and validate these proposals. A continuation of the movement in certain places is not excluded. In all cases, EDF management responded very quickly to the main demands. Much less visible than the blockages of refineries in recent weeks, the decline in the work regime in nuclear power plants was much more problematic in this period of energy tension in Europe.
The strikes have led to delays in the maintenance schedule for the entire nuclear fleet, rekindling concerns about possible shortages this winter. Out of the question for the management of EDF to let the situation get bogged down, what is more on the eve of a takeover of the company by the State through a renationalisation. The electrician, which will be in debt to the tune of 60 billion euros at the end of the year, will again be a fully public group in the coming weeks. The State, which today owns 84% of EDF, will buy out the 16% of the capital which remains listed on the stock market today.