Union Calls Strike as Total Announces Refinery Closure

France's CGT union on Monday called on workers at all oil refineries, depots and port loading terminals to strike on July 2 to protest against Total's  plans to end refining at its La Mede plant on the south coast.

In a statement, the CGT also called for Total's service stations to be blocked every Thursday this summer until the oil company withdraws its proposals for La Mede.

The move is an attempt to extend protests by workers at La Mede that disrupted production earlier this month.

Total intends to halt crude oil processing at its 153,000 barrels-per-day La Mede site near Marseille by the end of 2016 as demand for petroleum products declines in Europe.

Reporting by Gus Trompiz and Sybille de La Hamaide