French Unions Unite for Nationwide Strikes, Increasing Pressure on Macron’s Government
PARIS – French trade unions are uniting on Thursday for nationwide strikes and demonstrations calling for higher wages and backing a growing high school protest movement, adding to the pressure on the embattled government.
After more than a month of recurring, large-scale protests across France, major rallies are once again expected in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Hundreds of thousands of people could take part.
The walkout is expected to cause widespread transport disruption, while some schools may close as teachers join the strike.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police officers would be deployed, supported by armored vehicles, drones and helicopters. Police forces have faced criticism over the use of heavy-handed tactics that have injured protesters.
In a joint statement, France’s main unions warned that the country was nearing recession as layoff plans continued to increase. “Fuel, food products, rent, gas, electricity … everything’s going up except wages and pensions,” they said.
France is struggling under heavy debt and ranks among Europe’s weakest economic performers, alongside Italy and Belgium.
The unions issued a clear warning to President Emmanuel Macron’s government and to employers.
“Anger is immense,” they said. “The situation in this country is fragile. The pressing social and environmental challenges must be addressed without delay.”
Ahead of the strike, the government had been negotiating with unions—a familiar feature of French politics—in an effort to contain the unrest, which has produced the country’s worst civil disorder in years.
The movement began in September with protests over staff shortages at a high school southeast of Paris. It later spread nationwide, drawing students who want increased education funding and workers seeking relief from soaring fuel prices and other living costs.
