French unions shut down operations in gas and electricity sector

French unions geared up for late summer and autumn general strikes by partially shutting some gas and electric operations last week. The protest is in opposition to government posting 22% of Gaz de France’s (GdF) shares in an initial public offering. Five unions—including FCECFDT and FO—took strike action 20 June in response to GdF’s initial privatisation. The one-day strike crippled underground gas supplies at Gournay and Manosque, and at three nuclear and coal-powered electric generating sites. Last week’s strike actions could well be a prelude to bigger strikes in October when the French government expects to place shares of the much larger state-operated Électricité de France on bourses.