Leading multinational energy company Total SA is resuming operations at five French refineries following a union strike which started on 17 February, slowing production rates and forcing the refineries to shut down two days later.

The strikes happened at Total’s Donges, Feyzin, Gonfreville, Grandpuit and Provence refineries when a 48-hour union strike commenced in support of employees at Total’s Flandres refinery – Total is threatening to close the refinery which has been shut down since September 12, 2009, as a result of market conditions.

On February 19, the refineries started shutting down units which caused a direct impact in the distribution of fuels, then on February 23, the French government demanded that Total continued operating all five refineries at normal rates.

Consequently, Total proposed union representatives met for negotiations in which the company committed not to sell or close these five refineries.

Then, on February 24, workers voted at each refinery in local assemblies and concluded to return to normal production and distribution levels accordingly.

Source: industrialinfo.com

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As reported by Electric, a brand new Robin Hood Tax on all transactions between financial intuitions has been proposed by various charities, aid agencies and unions including The Salvation Army and ActionAid, in an attempt to help make homes more energy efficient.

Basically, it is believed that such a tax could raise up to £250 billion a year which could be used to help tackle issues surrounding climate change, to help fight poverty as well as protect public services.

The UK’s poverty fighting charities, in support of the Robin Hood Tax, have highlighted to the campaigner’s website that tackling child poverty, reforming the welfare system, and investing in affordable housing that is energy efficient, are just a few ways the money could be used.

Getting its name by way of taking from the wealthy, in this case the banks and giving to the poor, the Robin Hood Tax aims to make homes energy efficient, help people save money on their gas and electricity bills as well as encourage the government reach its own lower carbon emissions goals – and reducing energy bills is not only a concern of home owners as many businesses are equally concerned.

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A new online campaign has been launched in the UK starring actor Bill Nighy to drum up more support for the Robin Hood Tax.

Source: electric.co.uk