France's Hollande pledges "everything" to ensure petrol supply amid escalating blockades

In response to unions' blockades of the country's refineries which triggered oil shortages, French President Francois Hollande on Wednesday pledged to do everything to ensure oil supply as hundreds of petrol pump are dry paralysing citizens and hampering domestic economy.

"Everything will be done to ensure the supply for the French people and the economy," Stephane Le Fol, the government's spokesman, quoted Hollande as saying at a cabinet meeting.

"We will be determined and serene to apply supply rules," he added.

French unions escalated anti-labor reform action by staging blockades of refineries and petrol depots causing shortages at petrol pumps across the country and forced the government to tap in its strategic reserves.

Earlier on Wednesday, Transport Minister Alain Vidalies confirmed that strategic oil reserves have been used for two days.

"We used the equivalent of available two days out of 115. When we are faced with blocked depot we used these stocks in a manner that remains relatively marginal," he said.

Vidalies said 11 petrol depots have been unblocked since workers at refineries responded to the CGT union call, a week ago, to stop working to force the government to withdraw a text of new labor rules.

Despite mass protests and spread pickets, the Socialist government stands firm to pass the reform which aimed at making layoffs easier, reduce overtime pay and economic redundancies and open to negotiation working hours and holidays.

"My door is always open but the CGT does not rule this country. We won't withdraw the (reforms)," Prime Minister Manuel Valls told lawmakers.

In a further sign of escalating showdown over labor bill, Philippe Martinez, head of the largest CGT union said to press on with strikes till the withdrawal of the reform.

"We will carry on," he told France inter radio.

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