French refinery strikers to meet Total on Sunday

21. February. 2010

PARIS - Strikers at Total's (TOTF.PA) French oil refineries plan to meet the firm's management on Sunday, after warning that some petrol stations could run out of fuel in the next few days.

The CGT union, which represents 60 percent of union members at Total, is protesting against the possible closure of the Dunkirk plant in northern France by Europe's largest refiner.

Workers at Total's six French refineries extended their three-day strike on Friday.

The meeting is set for 1300 GMT on Sunday, the union said.

"In the event that negotiations fail, a petrol shortage will be the order of the day starting next week," the CGT said in a statement on Saturday.

Total Chief Executive Christophe de Margerie and France's Minister of Industry Christian Estrosi also plan to meet on Sunday, a spokesman for the refiner said.

France has 10 to 20 days of fuel supplies to cope with the refinery strike, the French Petroleum Industry Body said on Friday, ruling out an imminent petrol shortage as Parisians head off for school holidays.
[Reuters]