France public workers strike over pay as student protests turn violent

September 30, 2026 at 08:53 AM2 min

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Tens of thousands of French civil servants marched nationwide on Tuesday to demand higher pay, with unions claiming 300,000 participants and police estimating 30,000 in Paris. Students clashed with police in separate protests over school conditions, leading to 440 detentions and 10 wounded. The unrest comes two days before the government unveils its draft budget.

Key Facts

Unions said about 300,000 people took part in the one-day strike, while police estimated 30,000 in Paris.
Protests took place at more than 400 schools, with about 40 blockaded and 44 facing attempted blockades.
Ten people were wounded and at least 440 detained in the student unrest, officials said.
The government proposes freezing base salaries for state employees in 2027 to save 2 billion euros ($2.3bn).
Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor, gave the government 48 hours to reverse the planned cuts.

Strike Demands

Civil servants, including teachers, firefighters and healthcare workers, demanded higher pay and better working conditions. Unions say the government proposes freezing base salaries for state employees in 2027 to save 2 billion euros ($2.3bn). The freeze would be the fourth consecutive annual freeze and the eighth during President Emmanuel Macron's tenure. Unions say the freezes have cost workers a double-digit share of their purchasing power, and they are demanding a 6 percent raise.

Student Unrest

Students protested outside hundreds of schools over timetables, class sizes, teacher shortages and overheated classrooms during this year's heatwaves. The demonstrations began in the Ile-de-France region around Paris and spread to other cities. Protests took place at more than 400 schools, about 40 of which were blockaded and 44 of which faced attempted blockades. Ten people, both students and staff members, were wounded, and at least 440 were detained, officials said.

Government Response

Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor, called the protests "a red alert". She gave the government 48 hours to reverse the planned cuts before her union decides on further strike action. The Education Ministry said just more than 11 percent of teachers and other school staff went on strike. France's civil aviation regulator had warned of flight disruptions at some airports.