French demonstrators on Oct. 2, 2010. (Creative Commons)

Ten out of 12 of the country's oil refineries remained  closed because of the strike, heightening fears that fuel supplies would be affected. French authorities sought to stop panic buying of gasoline, which caused sales of fuel to jump 50 percent.

The strike is expected to continue this week with truckers and road transport workers joining in on the protests Monday. On Tuesday, thousands are expected to participate in a sixth mass protest day that could further disrupt fuel supplies and transportation.

Some have compared this strike, which began in September, to the French student-led protests of 1968 that caused riots and nearly a take down of the government. Students have been encouraged to participate in the most recent strikes, protesting in the streets and even barricading schools.

The main sticking between protestors and Sarkozy's reform law is the proposed raise of the retirement age from 60 to 62. The National Assembly, the lower house of the French government, has already passed the pension reform law, and could pass the Senate this week.

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