Exxon deal with unions at France refinery to allow job-cutting plan

Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) said it can move ahead with a plan to cut jobs at its Port Jerome refinery in France after obtaining a majority agreement this week with unions, Reuters reported Thursday.

Exxon (XOM) said it had reached an agreement with two of four striking trade unions representing staff at the plant, after negotiations reduced the number of job cuts in France to 608 from 677; two other unions refused to sign the plan and said they would extend the strike at the petrochemical side of the refinery.

The company said the deals enabled it to obtain a majority agreement and that it could now present its draft Employment Protection Plan to the French government for approval.

Strike action so far has been limited to chemical workers after Exxon (XOM) said it would shut down its steam cracker and close chemical production at the Port Jerome site this year.