The Standoff Over France's New Labor Laws Is Escalating
Earlier today, French police shut down an organized fuel depot blockade. The blockade was run by CGT, a powerful French Union, who has now threatened to strike. The union has voted in favor of a 24-hour strike that will begin at 3pm EST (1900 GMT) today. As a result, the French government has resorted to its emergency fuel reserves and has declared that the union is holding the country hostage. CGT is fighting a new labor reform aimed to relieve the country's 10% unemployment rate, despite the fact that the bill has garnered support from other unions. CGT maintains that the bill will result in protective labor regulations.
See "The Standoff Over France's New Labor Laws Is Escalating", Fortune, May 25, 2016