Roundup: France's gov't-unions showdown over labor code reform continues as fresh protests scheduled

When the deadlock showdown between the French government and unions over labor code reform will end remains unclear as more fresh protests are scheduled, with refineries blockades continuing to cause fuel shortages in main pump stations.

Despite a wave of street protests and strikes over the past couple of weeks, the government stands inflexible in smoothing labor rule and uses forces to pass the controversial text.

On Monday, angry workers and truckers blocked five of the country's eight refineries and some fuel depots to prove a show of force to make the ruling Socialists reconsider their law of new labor rules.

Joining nationwide anti-labor action, refineries stoppages hit the country's fuel supply and prompted shortages mainly in the northern, western cities as well as in ile-de-France region.

According to the transport ministry, about 1,500 petrol pumps out of a total of 12,000 stations are out of fuel, forcing the government to tap oil strategic reserves.

The movement against labor reform fuelled consumer panic with long queues of motorists were observed in petrol pumps to fill their tanks on fears of severe supply disruption while officials repeatedly dismissed risks of fuel shortage.

"In any case, we have the reserves to deal with these blockades. We have the situation fully under control," French Premier Manuel Valls told news channel BFMTV.

"I express again our determination to carry out the reforms (which) will go to Parliament and will be adopted definitely in July," he said.

President Francois Hollande has said he would "not give in" to protesters on a reform to soften labor rules which according to him, would "provide visibility, stability... to create jobs."

"I am trying to do what the country should expect from a head of state... even if they are difficult even if they are unpopular," the president told local broadcaster EUrope1.

However, unions said they were determined to continue their protests as long as the government did not reconsider the bill.

"We promise that if the government does not withdraw the draft, the mobilizations will continue to develop. The ball is in the camp of the president," Philippe Martinez, head of the country's largest CGT union told RTL radio.

In an interview with RMC radio, Emmanuel Lepine, from CGT petrol branch, said the movement in refinery and fuel depots would last at least a week.

"There's only one way to resolve the situation which is is to remove. It's is very simple," he added.

With no sign of an immediate end of the showdown, CGT union called workers at RATP public transport operator for an open-ended strikes against the reform from June 2, just a few days before the beginning of European soccer tournament Euro 2016.

On Thursday last week, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of French cities, in the sixth such movement since weeks ago, to demand the withdrawal of a reform expected to make layoffs easier, reduce overtime pay and economic redundancies. Organizers said as many as 400,000 people participated while police put the number at 129,000.

Stressing that "the game is not over," trade unions and youth organizations planned two fresh protests on May 24 and June 14.

"The government has no other way than to dialogue with organizations fighting for the withdrawal of this bill and to listen to their demands," they wrote in a joint statement.

The controversial labor reform bill had automatically passed its first reading in parliament earlier this month after French Premier resorted to a 49-3 decree, to push through the law without a vote.

The government has the right to use the same decree to pass the text in following readings. Endit