French unions call for new round of strike action in December
Three leading unions back motion with more potentially joining
Disruption in several sectors including education is likely
2023 Pierre Banoori/Shutterstock
Three of France’s leading unions have called for strike action on December 2 “to achieve social, fiscal, and environmental justice,” in the upcoming budget.
Leading teacher union FSU and trade unions CGT and Solidaires have all backed the action and called on members to join.
As of November 7, it is unclear whether other leading trade unions such as the FO and the nation’s largest CFDT will back the action would be the third ‘intersyndicale’ strike of the year.
In a press release the three committed unions said the call “is an initiative expected to spread.”
They also called on young people and retirees to join in protests and demonstrations scheduled on the day.
As an official day of strike action, disruption is expected in several sectors including transport, healthcare, and education.
Strike notices will be submitted nearer the time, providing a clearer picture of the anticipated scale of disruption.
Further action following December 2 has not been declared but is considered possible.
The action follows a CGT-backed ‘pensioners’ march on Thursday November 6 held in several locations across France, aimed at overturning measures in the draft 2026 budget deemed harmful to retirees.
Unions seek to pressure government before key budget vote
In a joint statement, the three unions underlined the success of actions taken earlier this year. They said these efforts helped remove plans to cut two public holidays from the French calendar.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also announced he would not use article 49.3 to push the budget through Parliament without debate.
“However, the first weeks of parliamentary debate demonstrate that without the mobilisation of the working class, this budget will have catastrophic consequences for workers, for our public services, and for the future of our country,” the unions said.
“Now is the time to amplify our mobilisations this fall to put pressure on the government… We want to definitively bury all these setbacks, secure the repeal of the pension reform, and obtain the necessary resources for our public services.”
Final votes on the budget will not be held until after the planned day of action, with unions believing a strong turnout could still impact the final text of the bill.
