All of the French refinery workers who were striking have voted to end their strikes and return to work. All of the 12 refineries are now back in operation. Port workers have also decided to end their strike, freeing the 80 oil tankers to offload their crude oil, which will give the refinery workers work. The French Parliament has approved the plan to raise the retirement age, and President Sarkozy is expected to sign the bill around November 15. Unions say that the protesters are slowing down, but said that they are not giving up. Another day of protest is planned for November 6, and union leaders are discussing what to do after that.
See "France gets back to work as protest movement gets 'fatigue'", BBC News Online, October 28, 2010