Strike at Crédit Agricole sees many branches closed
Unions are asking for the reopening of salary negotiations
Crédit Agricole unions are participating in what they deem to be the ‘first’ major strike in France’s banking sector
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Some Crédit Agricole branches may be closed today (January 22) as workers across France take rare strike action against insufficient pay rises and job insecurity.
Some 78,000 employees of the Fédération nationale du Crédit Agricole (FNCA), which brings together 39 regional banks and several associated branches, are being encouraged to strike for at least two hours, a half-day, or even a full working day.
Workers are mobilising “to demand a pay rise that reflects employee efforts” and call for the reopening of salary negotiations, with unions deeming this the first major strike in France’s banking sector.
“Record profits for Credit Agricole and its executives, and a 0.44% increase for employees,” reads the joint announcement published by several unions including the union Sud-Crédit Agricole Mutuel (Sudcam), the Syndicat National Indépendant des Agents du Crédit Agricole Mutuel and the Union Nationale des Employés et Cadres du Crédit Agricole.
“It is time to remind everyone that without its employees, Crédit Agricole is nothing,” continues the press release.
Unions are also mobilising against difficult working conditions, citing unrealistic targets, and excessive workloads, and warn against the potential effects of an efficiency plan to merge certain roles, fearing this could lead to job cuts.
An increasing number of Crédit Agricole branches are closing down with some 112 branches shutting in 2025 - twice as many as in previous years, states Sudcam.
Action across France
Employees gathered in front of Crédit Agricole’s head office in Caen at 10:00 today, with several other employees walking out of branches across the region “to make their voices heard,” says the union branch Sudcam Normandie in a Facebook post.
Mobilisations are also underway at the head office in Clermont Ferrand (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and at further regional branches including Toulon (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) and Guéret (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), stated Sudcam Centre France.
The Crédit Agricole Alsace Vosges committee is calling on employees to gather at 16:00 at the head office in Strasbourg or “in front of your office or agency.”
Several more mobilisations are expected across France throughout the day.
Online banking services and ATMs are still functional, however clients may want to delay any in-branch visits.
