Strikes and Protests Spread Across France on November 5
Workers across France went on strike on Thursday, November 5, 2026, following calls from trade unions, and hundreds of thousands of people were expected to join demonstrations in the streets. Organisers said protests were expected in 260 cities and towns.
On the morning of the strike, protesters gathered in Marseille, Lyon and Nantes. A rally in Paris was scheduled to begin at 13:00 GMT. France's Education Ministry expected 16 percent of teachers nationwide to strike.
The strikers' demands include a higher minimum wage (the lowest pay an employer can legally offer), higher salaries for all workers, tax reforms and better conditions in schools. The CGT union prepared placards and social-media images reading "Tout augmente, sauf mon salaire," which means "Everything is going up except my salary."
The call follows a meeting in October. Trade union leaders said they were disappointed after meeting the government, and on October 21 Sophie Binet called for strikes on November 5 after a two-and-a-half-hour meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, according to France 24. Lecornu had also planned to meet unions to discuss security as the government prepared for more protests.
Authorities banned protests in several cities and in parts of Paris ahead of the nationwide demonstrations. President Emmanuel Macron convened a defence and security meeting on November 4 to ensure public order.
Reporting by Reuters said France had seen unrest in October and that Macron was seeking to prevent a repeat of it. On November 5, flag-waving protesters marched through French cities while public sector workers went on strike. Earlier, on October 25, labour leaders had urged further protests on the Saturday after that date, in addition to the November 5 strike, Reuters reported.
