French police broke up blockades on oil refineries and gas stations on Friday, hours before the French Senate is due to vote on a pension reform bill. The government said that the breakup of the blockades was necessary to preserve "freedom of movement," but unions condemned the action, calling it illegal. Protests at the oil refineries have been ongoing for the past week, and unions called for another national day of action next Tuesday, Thursday and on November 6, in an effort to show the government that the strike is not subsiding during a school holiday. According to polls, around 70% of the population supports the strikes.
See "Frence police disperse strikers ahead of pension vote", Roland Lloyd Parry, October 21, 2010