French unions issue ‘ultimatum’: new strikes expected

France’s major unions are primed to call for more strike action following widespread support for demonstrations yesterday, which leaders hailed a ‘great success’ for the social movement. 

They have given new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu an ultimatum of September 24 (next Wednesday) to respond to their demands, or they will call for new strike action.

Between 500,000 and one million people turned out for yesterday’s protests (depending on whether using Interior Ministry or union figures), which were backed by France’s ‘intersyndicale’ of the eight largest unions in the country.

Clashes with police and protestors led to more than 100 arrests, and the day saw several attempted ‘blocages’ - actions unaffiliated with union marches - alongside disruption in several sectors. 

This included disruption to rail and road transport, schools, hospitals and pharmacies, and public services.

Unions threaten further action

The CGT, the second largest union taking part in the action and one of France’s most radical, said Thursday’s strikes “sent a clear warning to the government: social anger is growing.” 

“The prime minister must respond very quickly, otherwise there will be new [protests],” said CGT leader Sophie Binet to France5. 

“We want a budget of fiscal, social, and ecological justice… the ball is in the prime minister's court,” said leader of the CFDT Marylise Léon. The CFDT is France’s biggest union which also took part in the strikes. 

Mr Lecornu had already agreed yesterday evening to meet with the unions following the strikes.

However, the intersyndicale (the eight unions united under one movement) gave their new ultimatum following a meeting this morning to discuss further steps.

If the prime minister does not respond by the deadline, unions will “decide very quickly on a new date for demonstrations,” said the group in a shared press release.

Political parties of the left, from the Socialists to the far-left La France Insoumise, are likely to back the unions if they call for further action.

Similar to the 2023 pension reform protests, unions may look to deviate from strikes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, the typical days for action in France, and instead call for weekend demonstrations, when more people from the private sector, elderly residents, parents, etc can join in. 

This would see the strikes turn from a worker-led to a wider political movement. 

Strikes already called in several sectors

Regardless of the outcome of the unions’ meeting with the prime minister, France is set to see several strikes over the coming weeks.

Pharmacists, who walked out en masse yesterday with a near total shutdown of pharmacies, will begin weekly strikes on Saturdays from September 27.

A weekend strike has been chosen by the sector because Saturdays are optional opening dates for pharmacies (although most choose to open as it is a busy day), and local prefectures cannot force certain shops to remain open. 

It is recommended to obtain any essential medicine in advance of the weekend, as pharmacies are usually closed on Sundays. 

Some 17% of teachers walked out on Thursday according to education unions, leading to school closures, with 14 universities also said to have been closed by striking students.

A strike in the sector is continuing until October which could see further disruption. 

Air traffic controllers were set to strike on September 18, however the union leading the movement decided to reschedule the dates to October 7 - 9 to allow for a meeting with the new government of Sébastien Lecornu. 

It is highly unlikely that the strike will be called off again, unless the results of the meeting are deemed successful by unions.

Taxi drivers are also likely to call another day of action, as changes to medical transport rules – which affect many drivers – are set to come into force next month.