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Five major union confederations have called for the nationwide mobilisation that combines strikes in the public and private sectors with marches in cities across the country according to Reuters. The CFDT CGT FO UNSA and FSU are seeking across-the-board pay rises an increase in the minimum wage that has seen no discretionary boost since 2012 and protection for public services facing austerity measures a joint union statement obtained by AFP indicated. The action coincides with ongoing student protests that began in September over school conditions and has attracted support from the Yellow Vest movement which first emerged in 2018 over fuel taxes Bloomberg reported.
Disruptions are anticipated in rail services where SNCF has warned of significant delays on regional TER lines and some Intercités routes with about one train in two affected in regions such as Hauts-de-France The Guardian reported. Education Ministry data cited by multiple outlets places teacher strike participation at around 18 percent in primary schools while hospital workers postal staff and refinery employees have also been called out. Power utility EDF told Reuters it expects energy workers to join reducing domestic electricity output and forcing France to import power on the day.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has ordered the deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes across France with a pledge of an extremely firm response to any violence according to Reuters. Authorities estimate turnout between 500,000 and 700,000 people nationwide including up to 80,000 in Paris a figure that unions hope will rival the million-plus marches seen during the 2023 pension reform protests AFP data shows. The security operation follows weeks of unrest that included riots in October and comes five months before presidential elections in which the far right leads opinion polls Bloomberg noted.
Student demonstrations over overcrowded classrooms teacher shortages and deteriorating buildings sparked the broader movement in September before expanding to include cost-of-living grievances The Guardian reported. Unions have criticised the government’s 2027 budget which includes 54 billion euros in savings and would freeze public-sector salaries while cutting social spending a striketracker assessment found. In a joint statement the unions warned that fuel food rent gas and electricity costs are rising while wages and pensions remain frozen Reuters reported.
France as the eurozone’s second-largest economy is grappling with high debt levels and sluggish growth that have left it among the worst performers in the bloc alongside Italy according to Bloomberg. The budget impasse has deadlocked parliamentary talks prompting the measure to advance to the Senate with a December vote scheduled. Union leaders have described the moment as a serious test for the government with CGT head Sophie Binet calling for the strike to be generalised after disappointing talks with officials Euronews reported.
CFDT secretary general Marylise Leon told BFM television that workers should be able to make a decent living from their jobs while addressing both the state and employers. Unions have also demanded taxes on wealth and dividends plus an end to public aid for companies without conditions the CGT statement on its website indicated. Organisers anticipate the day will intensify pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s administration as it seeks to avoid further escalation ahead of the election Reuters concluded.
