Massive Trade Union Strike in France
On Thursday, more than 85,000 people participated in a trade union strike across France to protest planned cuts to next year’s budget.
The strike included teachers, health workers, and public service employees, resulting in the closure of the Eiffel Tower. Protesters aim to pressure President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to reconsider the proposed budget cuts.
Demands of the Protesters
Trade union leaders, including the CFDT and radical CGT, are calling for:
Increased spending on public services
Reversal of the retirement age increase
Higher taxes on the wealthy
CGT General Secretary Sophie Binet emphasized that all labor-related cuts from previous budget proposals must be permanently repealed.
Context and Public Sentiment
Previous French budget reforms led to the removal of Prime Minister François Bayrou by Parliament due to plans to slash €44 billion
Participation on Thursday was lower than past protests, but demonstrators remain determined
Protester Dominique Meunier from Nantes said: “We have to keep fighting, even if there aren’t many of us. Every time we lose a day, but that’s how democracy usually progresses.”
Final Word
The strike underscores growing public discontent with France’s budget policies and highlights the strength of trade unions in mobilizing citizens for economic and social demands.
