French port workers dug in Saturday as unions extended strike action at the country's biggest cargo terminals in Marseille, Le Havre, Nantes and Rouen into next week.
Action against government plans to outsource part of the heavy machinery operations under an overhaul of France's port system has been extended to Sunday at least with partial blockades also ordered throughout most of next week. The government is due to debate proposed legislation on Wednesday, according to union opponents.
"The strike against ports privatisation will continue until tomorrow (Sunday)," Pascal Galeote, CGT union leader at the country's biggest port, Marseille, told AFP.
"We are now into resistance territory - we will take all necessary forms of action," he added. Galeote said the government had adopted a "dogmatic" position, ignoring consultations despite holding out the promise of negotiations.
A full strike started on Thursday among crane-drivers and signals operators, with the already-privatised dockers and other handling staff also staging timed walk-outs in support. All cargo including petrol deliveries has been blocked in Marseille, although passenger ferries are being allowed to move in and out freely.
At the port of Nantes-Saint Nazaire, the crane-drivers' protest was hardening - although the petrol and gas terminal there was still functioning - with Sunday blacked out and further disruption planned for Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights, plus all of Wednesday. Both of these ports have seen flash disruption all week by disgruntled crane operators.