PARIS, Feb 5, 2010 (AFP) - Four unions representing workers at Total oil refineries throughout France on Friday called for a strike starting on February 17 to defend jobs.
    Total last week decided to postpone until June a decision on whether to shut down its Flanders refinery in northern France, after the government stepped in.
    "We are calling for an open-ended strike starting on February 17 at all plants of Total's refinery and commercial branches," said Charles Foulard from the CGT union.
    "This action is to support the workers in Dunkirk and tell management that investment is needed to ensure the future of the refinery industry in France," he said.
    Workers at the refinery near Dunkirk have been on strike since January 12 and have warned they will "seize" the facility if production does not re-start by February 15.
    Total in September cited a decline in sales of refined products for its decision to halt operations at the Flanders refinery, which employs 370 people directly and 450 sub-contractors.
    Three months later, the oil giant said it was considering a move to shut down the facility, one of six refineries run by Total in France.
    President Nicolas Sarkozy has made fighting unemployment a priority and his government has told Total it must guarantee jobs, in particular since its earnings for 2009 topped 8.0 billion euros.