Major French union joins calls for ‘total blockade’ on September 10
The blockade has been called in response to the government’s budget plans
The CGT is France’s second-biggest union
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One of France’s major trade unions has come out in support of a nationwide shutdown on September 10 in protest against the government’s austerity measures.
The CGT national trade union on Wednesday 27 August said it hoped the blockade "will be a successful first step", adding that it would call for "building the strike wherever possible."
The CGT is the second biggest union in France by votes in professional elections held every four years, and until 2017, was the biggest in the country.
The mysterious citizen-led movement behind the blockade began on social media, and is known under the names Bloquons tout (Block everything) and mobilisation10septembre (rally10september).
It said it was formed to protest against the budget plans announced by Prime Minister François Bayrou on July 15.
The plans, which are aiming to find €44 billion in savings for the 2026 budget, have faced a widespread backlash in France.
"Whatever the government's situation, what we want is another budget that meets urgent social and environmental needs," the CGT said in a statement, adding "the momentum behind the citizens' initiative of September 10 demonstrates the extent of social anger."
The group has called for a range of actions, from boycotting supermarkets to striking and refusing to work, which has steadily attracted political and union support.
The CGT had until Wednesday kept quiet on whether or not it would support the blockade, with its leader Sophie Binet expressing concern that there could be “infiltration by the far right” in the movement.
France’s biggest union, the CFDT, would not support the blockade, its leader Marylise Léon said on Tuesday.
The FO union has not said whether it would support the blockade.
Some politicians have pledged support to the movement, which has not attached itself to any particular party or political leaning.
The founder of left-wing La France Insoumise and 2022 presidential candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, was the first major political figure to show support, saying the government’s budget proposal was “devastating”.
Other politicians from the Socialist party and the Greens have also shown support for the September 10 protests.
Prime Minister Bayrou, on Monday August 25, said he would hold a confidence vote on September 8, in a bid to strengthen support ahead of budget plan debates later in the month.
