France should prepare for a 'black day' tomorrow due to nationwide strike action, with the travel and health sectors in particular set to be disrupted.
Authorities in France are expecting hundreds of thousands of people to protests or join demonstrations tomorrow, with unions and left-wing political parties urging workers to join.
A source from the Interior Ministry told French media that police are currently estimating around 800,000 people are set to join protests and demonstrations across France on Thursday, around four times as many as during the 'Bloquons tout' protests of September 10.
The 'Bloquons tout' protests failed to materialise into further demonstrations, although were not as widely supported by political forces and unions as Thursday's strikes will be.
France’s eight major unions have called for mass mobilisation and walkouts on September 18, with official demonstrations and blockades expected to cause severe disruption across the country.
Disruption to the rail network and an almost total shutdown of pharmacies is expected.
Unions and leftist parties combine
Unions taking part include the more radical CGT and Solidaires, the FO (who are running their own ‘general strike’ throughout autumn), and the largest but one of the more moderate CFDT.
They are protesting over proposals expected to be included in the 2026 budget, including a freeze on social welfare spending - although prior commitments to abolish two public holidays on the French calendar have been pulled from the plans - as well as demands to re-open talks on pension reform in France.
Other unions unaffiliated with the inter-union groups but also striking on the day are protesting pay and working conditions as well as government policies over a range of sectors such as health and transport.
Since notifying of the strikes many are also unhappy about the appointment of new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, which they see as a direct continuation of ‘Macronism’ politics.
In addition to the unions, political forces on the left including the Socialist Party, Communist Party, and La France Insoumise (the only parliamentary group not to have an official meeting with the new prime minister) are all backing the movement.
Alongside unions, they are calling for a large turnout in order to pressurise the new prime minister into negotiating with the left prior to the 2026 budget being announced.
"The more people there are in the streets on Thursday, the more we can negotiate," said Socialist Party secretary Olivier Faure, quoted in FranceInfo.
"The voices of the French women and men who will speak out next Thursday are likely to influence government policy. Our problem isn't changing the Prime Minister, our problem is changing policy," he added.
"We are not creating a balance of power in the prime minister's office," said Communist party Senator Ian Brossat, quoted in FranceInfo.
"We are participating in the consultations [with the new prime minister over forming a government and the 2026 budget], but we don't participate in the same way when we are bolstered by a powerful social movement as when we have a sluggish social movement,' he added.
Unions call for workplace action and street protests
The CGT union has said Thursday's strategy is not to encourage sporadic public demonstrations as were seen on September 10, but for joining action via unions and in the workplace.
"We are calling for strikes in companies, in the workplace, through supervised demonstrations," said CGT Secretary Nathalie Bazire to FranceInfo.
This is expected to include union-led protests and blockades at key facilities and buildings from the early morning, followed by daytime marches in towns and cities across France.
The CGT supports an alignment of civil demonstrations and worker-led action, but on Thursday is calling for "everyone to strike to demand the repeal of the pension reform and, above all, strong action to stop the austerity policies in this country," said Miss Bazire.
Protests in major cities are being organised by unions through official channels.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau will deploy around 80,000 police - the same number as on September 10 - and has urged prefectures to work with unions to ensure vital infrastructure remains unaffected by protests.
"The risks of public order disturbances are significant due to the presence of ultra-left groups that will try to infiltrate official processions," he said in a document sent to department prefectures, seen by FranceInfo.
The Ministry believes that 'black bloc' anarchists and violent protestors are set to join demonstrations in major cities, seeking conflict with police, with up to 300 joining the largest marches.
"Consequently, you will implement, with the internal security forces and the judicial authorities, the appropriate ways and means to detect, intercept, and search individuals who may be suspected of violent behaviour," added the minister.
"No damage to public or emblematic buildings will be tolerated... any attempt to block infrastructure essential to the life of the nation must be prevented in advance and, if necessary, resolved as quickly as possible," he said, with this "including secondary schools and universities."
Sector-by-sector disruption
Rail network and public transport
Several rail unions are calling for disruption to the network, which is expected to have more of an impact than the protests of September 10 in the sector.
The three unions representing around 70% of workers (through collective bargaining agreements) on the SNCF network have filed for strike action, and have called on all members to walk out on Thursday.
Former Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot (holding until the role until prime minister announces his new cabinet) laid out the expected disruption yesterday evening.
Around 90% of high-speed TGV (OuiGo and InOui trains) will run as scheduled, however half of Intercités services are to be cancelled.
Locally, around 60% of regional TER trains will run, but this will change depending on location.
Exact revised timetables will be available from Wednesday September 17 at 17:00 through official SNCF channels.
Several public transport networks in major cities - buses, trams, and metros included - are also likely to be disrupted.
This includes services in Paris under the RATP umbrella, with four unions supporting workers on the network all backing strike action.
Action on the Paris public transport network will begin on September 17, several unions said in a joint-announcement.
Only metro lines 1,4, and 14 (all automatic with no driver) will run as scheduled on September 18.
On lines 7, 9, 10 and 13 there will be heavy disruption, and on all others there will only be services during the commuter rush-hour, with none throughout the day.
The RER Lines 'A' and 'B' will face disruption, lines 'D' and 'E' severe disruption, and several Transilien commuter rail services will also see a reduction in services.
It will run until September 19, causing additional disruption in the capital.
Check with official sites nearer the time for more precise information.
Airports affected
Original plans for a massive air traffic controller strike on Septemebr 18 - separate to the inter-union movement - have been called off.
The SNCTA union that represents some 70% of air traffic controllers originally called for its own strike action on September 18-19.
However, on Friday September 12 the union announced it has cancelled the motion while it awaits the appointment of a new government by prime minister Sébastien Lecornu.
"Given that a new prime minister has been appointed and that some time will be needed to form a government, we have no one to negotiate with to reach an agreement on our demands at ministerial level by 18 September," said the union's general secretary Guillaume Sintes (quoted by FranceInfo).
However, the union has announced it will strike on the date of October 7 - 9 instead.
Unions affiliated with the main unions (CFDT, FO, and CGT) are calling on workers in the aviation sector to strike, but disruption is set to be limited.
The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) announced last night that delays are expected across French airports, but that it had not called for any flight cancellations.
Strikes may affect not only routes to and from France but also those that fly over French air space.
In particular flights to and from Spain, the UK and Italy are expected to be affected.
It means that knock-on disruption throughout the continent could be widespread.
In addition, airport and airline workers covered by the unions may also walk out, further disrupting airports.
If planning to fly on September 18 or 19 you should keep up to date with information from your airline.
Road network
While there is always a risk of road blockades during major protest days – either due to marches in cities or action targeting motorways and tollbooths – it is expected to be heightened on September 18 by taxi drivers joining the strike.
Engaging in several actions over the summer due to changes on how hospital transport fees are calculated, driver unions originally called for action on September 5 before cancelling this amid the recent political changes.
Some called for drivers to join protests on September 10 but a lack of organisation and fear of being caught up in police and protestor violence meant drivers did not engage with the protests at a union level.
However, some drivers are expected to join the action on September 18.
This could see taxi drivers engage in drive-slow ‘snail’ protests along major roads and motorways, blockades at airports and train stations, and demonstrations outside of key public buildings.
There are also calls for workers on ride-share apps to stop working for the day by disconnecting from these apps, also covering those delivering groceries and food.
A major protest by farmers on September 26 means they are unlikely to join the movement on Thursday in any real numbers.
Energy sector workers
The energy branch of the CGT has called for strike action by workers in the gas and electricity sectors since September 2, which has continued into September 18.
However the union promised households would not be impacted by the strike, and no homes would be cut off from the grid by any action.
Civil servants and administration staff
Civil servants and bureaucratic staff are covered by a month-long strike notice. It is unclear how many will walk out on September 18 at the behest of unions, but disruption is expected and closures to some public services are possible.
Pharmacies, hospitals, physiotherapists
Also called independently before the inter-union announcement, pharmacy unions are calling for widespread action on September 18, before weekly Saturday closures from September 27 onwards.
The two leading pharmacist unions claim up to 98% of pharmacies are set to close on Thursday, based on a nationwide questionnaire sent to over 1,000 pharmacies (there are around 20,000 in the country).
This included members not part of the unions, who are also walking out.
Pharmacists are set to hold their own demonstrations or join wider protests across the country.
However, unlike strikes on August 16 (a Saturday) which saw up to 90% of pharmacies close in some areas to protest government policies, this weekday strike can see prefects force some pharmacies to remain open to provide access to medicine.
A strike of physiotherapists is also scheduled for September 18, organised by the Fédération française des kinésithérapeutes et rééducateurs that supports the mostly-independent practitioners.
No specific action is set for public hospitals, however a month-long civil servant/public sector strike could see hospital workers in a major union act on September 18. It is likely therefore that some disruption is possible.
Schools
Similarly to hospital staff, workers at schools are being urged to strike as part of public sector walkouts.
In addition a prolonged strike motion in the sector covers workers for strike action until October, and again many unions are expected to urge workers to join in on September 18.
Less than 5% of workers in schools went on strike on September 10 despite calls to do so, however there are estimates that up to 35% of staff will strike on Thursday.
Schools across France will be impacted - in the capital alone, at least 90 schools, or 15% of establishments, will close due to a lack of staff.
