France Braces for Nationwide Strikes and Protests Over Living Costs

More than 220 demonstrations were expected across France on November 5, 2026, as strikes and rallies escalated weeks of protests against the rising cost of living. The day's actions were set to draw in several sectors at once, including hospital, air traffic and rail workers, according to The Guardian.

The CGT, a French trade union, called for the strike to be extended nationwide. The union said the call followed the government's refusal to hear its demands. Its demands centre on pay increases.

The CGT described the November 5 walkouts as joint strikes with other trade union organisations, a format known in France as intersyndicale, meaning several unions acting together. The union's own page lists strikes and demonstrations across the country for the day.

The protests have built up over several weeks. Unions had called for strikes on November 5 to protest government budget cuts, as Reuters reported in October. On November 2, people demonstrated in Paris against rising living costs and cuts to public services.

Education has also been part of the picture. Students blockaded dozens of high schools across France on Tuesday, ahead of the strike, to keep up pressure over education reforms, according to Euronews. Earlier in the autumn, Marseille banned gatherings and demonstrations, Reuters reported.