A nationwide strike is taking place today, Thursday, November 5, with the participation of public and private sector workers, retirees, high school students, and college students. At the heart of the protests are rising prices, demands for wage increases, and the cuts outlined in the government’s 2027 budget proposal, while labor unions are warning of escalating social discontent.
The protests are taking place amid a particularly tense social climate, with the unions expressing their disappointment with the outcome of their meeting with government officials on October 21, during which their key economic and labor demands were discussed.
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“We want two things: wage increases across the board and a revision of the government’s budget plan, which, as it stands today, is disastrous for the country,” CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet, told France 2 on Monday.
She predicted massive turnout, emphasizing that “it will be a major day of solidarity, with the participation of private-sector workers, civil servants, retirees, and young people.”
The focus is on wages, pensions, and social benefits
Trade unions allege that the 2027 budget, currently under consideration by the French Parliament, places a disproportionate burden on the most vulnerable segments of society.
In a joint statement on October 5, they argued that the government “is targeting primarily the most vulnerable and the sick, freezing social benefits and curtailing the protective role of social security.”
At the same time, they are protesting the reduction in funding for public services and the freeze on the wage index used to calculate civil servants’ salaries.
The inter-union alliance has formulated seven key demands, with the top priority being a pay increase across all occupational sectors.
It is calling for the immediate start of wage negotiations in companies and sectors, the guarantee of equal pay for men and women, and an increase in social benefits.
The demands also include pension adjustments, an increase in the minimum wage (SMIC), a pay raise for public sector employees, and measures to improve their career advancement.
Possibility of an emergency increase in the minimum wage remains open
The issue of the minimum wage was raised at the meeting between the government and the unions on October 21.
The president of the CFTC union, Cyril Chabanier, stated at the time that the government had left open the possibility of such a discussion.
A few days later, the Minister of Labor and Social Solidarity, Jean-Pierre Farantou, told France Inter that an emergency increase in the minimum wage, affecting nearly two million workers, “is not off the table,” though he clarified that no final decision has been made.
The unions are seeking to use today’s strike to ramp up pressure on the government, demanding specific commitments rather than general assurances.
Taxation of wealth and review of €211 billion in state aid
Beyond demands regarding wages and social security, labor organizations are calling for changes in tax policy and the allocation of state resources.
They are calling for measures of “tax justice” through higher taxation of property, inheritances, and dividends, as well as a review of the subsidies received by businesses.
Particular mention is made of the 211 billion euros in state support for businesses in 2023, a figure derived from the calculations of a special investigative committee of the French Senate.
The unions are calling for an assessment of this aid, the imposition of specific conditions for its granting, and a redistribution of available funds.
At the same time, they are calling for greater public investment to address the climate crisis and adapt the economy to new environmental conditions.
Their proposals also include a plan to bring industrial production back to France and decarbonize the economy, while simultaneously strengthening public services.
As they argue, funding must be sufficient to educate young people, care for the elderly, and address the consequences of climate change.
Protests at Schools and on Railways
Organizations from various professional sectors are participating in the nationwide mobilization, adding their specific demands to the general ones.
In education, the union Snes-FSU is calling for increased funding for the national education system and the repeal of the high school reforms introduced in 2018 by former Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer in 2018.
In the transportation sector, the largest unions at the state-owned railway company SNCF are calling on workers to take action, denouncing “social decline and wage stagnation.”
Significant participation is also expected from student organizations.
“This is a day that is also linked to youth protests,” FSU General Secretary Caroline Sévé told the French Press Agency.
For her part, the spokesperson for the Student Union (USL), Sabrine Karbach, announced on October 31 that students would stage blockades before joining the demonstrations.
“On Thursday, we will stage blockades and then join the November 5 demonstration, following the workers’ call,” she had stated.
The “Yellow Vests” are also expected to participate in the protests, the movement that had played a leading role in the major social protests of previous years, this time adopting the slogan “November 5 belongs to the people.”
Today’s nationwide strike thus poses a new test for the French government, as labor unions seek to channel discontent over the cost of living, working conditions, and the 2027 budget decisions.
Source: Proto Thema
