Workers at a Total oil refinery in northern France that has been idle for five months stampeded into the plant on Tuesday and demanded to go back to work. About 150 staff burned tyres at the gated entrance of the plant near Dunkirk at dawn before pushing their way passed a dozen security guards. They then broke into the entrance of the main administrative building and occupied the offices of the plant director and other executives, who were allowed to leave. Clment Mortier, Total employee for three years and a half year says "If we’ve reached this point, it's because things are really bad. To be forced to occupy management buildings and the plant director's office, well, that's really sad."