France is preparing for nationwide strike action on Thursday, November 5, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to demonstrate. Unions anticipate participation from hospital employees, air traffic controllers, postal workers, teachers and railway staff, bringing together protests over household costs, public spending and education.
The mobilisation comes as President Emmanuel Macron faces continuing domestic turmoil in his final months in office. Workers concerned about the cost of living have joined weekly protests alongside high school students demanding better teaching conditions. At the same time, the government is trying to secure support for a budget that would tighten spending in a divided parliament, with public debt nearing 120% of economic output.
France’s four main railway unions criticised the proposed reductions ahead of the strike. They warned that the budget would deepen poverty, cut social security, keep public employees’ pay frozen and reduce the investment needed for environmental action. Unions spanning the political spectrum have backed the strike call over rising living costs.
Education remains another focus of the unrest. High school students have continued blocking access to schools in protest at crowded classrooms and deteriorating buildings. They say government proposals to limit the size of some classes and lend money to regional authorities for repairs fall short of what is needed. University students have also blockaded some faculties, while unions representing private school teachers have joined state school teachers in supporting strikes.
Rights organisations have separately raised concerns about the policing of demonstrations. The French Human Rights League accused the government of an authoritarian turn aimed at suppressing dissent, pointing to a heavy police presence, restrictions on protests in city centres and curfews imposed in certain areas.
Sophie Binet, leader of the leftwing CGT union, criticised moves by authorities in Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon to move demonstrations away from city centres. Marylise Léon, who leads the moderate CFDT union, defended the importance of keeping protests in public view, saying: “The principle of a demonstration is its visibility.”
Rail operator SNCF has warned of service disruption on regional routes and in parts of the greater Paris area. Dockworkers also expect disruption at French ports. The education ministry estimates that almost 18% of nursery and primary school teachers will strike, and unions expect secondary school teachers to participate as well.
The renewed demonstrations also form part of the backdrop to the contest to succeed Macron next spring. Marine Le Pen, the far-right, anti-immigration presidential candidate, is polling strongly ahead of the 2027 election.
