https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/france-strike-1500-walkouts-and-250-marches-different-future
Protesters during a demonstration for higher wages and in support of the high school protest movement in Paris, November 5, 2026Hundreds of thousands took to the streets of France today [5 Nov] as unions mounted a massive wave of strikes against government cuts, falling living standards and attacks on public services — piling pressure on Macron’s embattled government
WALKOUTS and mass demonstrations swept France today as the five main union federations organised over 1,500 strikes hitting most sectors of the economy and over 250 marches.
A third of the country’s schools were closed and work stopped at oil refineries and nuclear plants. Transport ground to a halt in many regions, and hundreds of thousands marched against the government despite last-minute police instructions rerouting many of the planned demonstrations.
The CGT, CFDT, FO, Unsa and FSU union federations issued a joint statement calling for political change.
“Fuel, food products, rent, gas, electricity… everything’s going up except wages and pensions,” it said.
“Anger is immense. The situation in this country is fragile. The pressing social and environmental challenges must be addressed without delay.”
CGT leader Sophie Binet said: “Nothing will stop us — the only thing that will end the mobilisation is a response to our demands. The longer you wait,” she warned the government, “the higher the price will be.”
Union demands include a rise to both the minimum wage and wages across the public sector, the abandonment of the government’s attempt to force through €54 billion (£45bn) in cuts, higher taxes on the rich and corporations and more money for public services.
“This day of strike action has a dual purpose — to obtain wage increases and to counter a budget that makes workers, those in precarious situations and retirees pay the price for policies in favour of the ultra-rich and large companies,” said the CGT’s Thomas Vacheron.
The government has promised to abolish the controversial Parcoursup university admission system in one of several partial concessions to demands, but its default response is still repression.
Riot police charged marchers on the huge Paris demo early in the afternoon, with footage showing them seizing banners and knocking protesters to the ground.
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