Some EdF staff still striking, output unaffected

Resumen de Prensa            Enervía, viernes, 16 mayo 2003

FUENTE: Platts


Some Electricite de France power plants continued to be
affected by strike action Wednesday, a CGT energy union
official told Platts. "There are a few units still on strike, but it
is very marginal," he said, although unable to provide details
of the plants affected and how long they would continue to be
affected. However, the official said there had been no further
output cuts on Wednesday. Output cuts caused by Tuesday's
official strike peaked at 12GW, he said. All five French energy
trade unions met late Wednesday to decide on further action.
"We want to keep our united front. We are going to ask staff
members to take part in demonstrations on Sunday May 25,"
he said. Production cuts would not be as important on that
day. The CGT had not called for action May 28 as reported
elsewhere, he said.
Strike cost millions of euros: CGT
France was forced to turn to more expensive coal and fuel-oil
fired generation during Tuesday's strike, costing the
state millions of euros, the CGT said. All the coal and fuel-
oil plants that could be started up were started up, a
spokesman said, and there was also a reduction in
exports. This was very costly for EdF. "The cost would have
run into millions of euros," he said. EdF said 49% of staff
took part in Tuesday's strike over pension reform. Most
power and gas workers have rejected the conclusions of a
government-backed commission to reform pensions. But
the government has said it would force through the reform.