French energy giant reveals strike-related losses
French utility Electricite de France (EDF) has warned of a big financial hit from recent industrial action at its nuclear reactors and hydro-electricity plants, claiming strikes had cost the company €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in lost output, sources have told Reuters.
According to the news agency’s report on Friday, EDF is also reviewing hiring plans for the year.
Two of the sources, reportedly union members, revealed they had been briefed by EDF executives in separate conversations last week and informed that EDF management had asked all divisions to see which hires could be postponed until next year.
An EDF spokesperson reportedly told Reuters that a moratorium had been imposed on hirings, without elaborating on the reason.
The company, which is 96% owned by the government and is in the process of being fully nationalized, originally planned to hire between 3,000 and 3,500 people in 2023, mostly in nuclear production and sales, one of the sources noted.
Workers’ walkouts at EDF have been part of the nationwide labor action to protest against the unpopular government plan to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64.
President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to go ahead with the reform despite nationwide protests and union threats to bring France to a standstill.
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