French trade unions stage nationwide strikes as PM Michel Barnier delivers first address
French trade unions have organised more than 180 demonstrations and strikes across the country on Tuesday calling for wage increases and the repeal of the controversial pension reform. The actions coincide with Prime Minister's Michel Barnier's first speech to parliament, where he is expected to outline his new government's priorities.
The CGT, the FSU, Solidaires and several student unions have joined forces for marches in several cities across France including Grenoble, Marseille, Rennes and Bordeaux in the morning, followed by afternoon rallies in Paris, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Lille and Dunkirk.
However, unions like the CFDT, the Force Ouvrière, the CFE-CGC, the CFTC (Christian workers) and the Unsa have said they will not join in this time because they felt it was "premature".
While some railway workers are preparing to strike, the French national railway company, SNCF, announced on Sunday that traffic would be "normal" for high-speed trains (TGV) and there would be only slight disruptions for certain regional trains.
Teachers are expected to join the processions planned across the country, hoping to attract attention of the new National Education Minister, Anne Genetet.
The SNES-FSU teachers' union said public service wages were "pitiful" and that no new measures were planned for 2024 and 2025.
It also pointed out that "at least [one] teacher was missing in 56 percent of middle and high schools" at the start of the school year, which began in September.
On Tuesday morning, three Parisian high schools were blocked by students who had called for a rallies in front of their establishments.
'Enormous social anger'
(with newswires)
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