Nationwide strikes bring France to standstill
Police fire teargas as protesters challenge Macron’s economic reforms
Thousands of French public sector workers took to the streets yesterday as part of a nationwide strike in protest at Emmanuel Macron’s planned public sector reforms.
Train drivers, teachers, nurses and air traffic controllers held more than 150 marches in towns and cities across France. Most were peaceful, although there were reports of police scuffling with protesters in Paris and firing tear gas and water cannon at demonstrators in the western city of Nantes.
The walk-out meant 60% of fast trains, 75% of intercity trains and 30% of flights to and from Paris airports had to be cancelled. Around 13% of teachers walked off the job, forcing the closure of a large number of primary schools.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
There are two different sets of grievances behind the strike day, “both of which have the potential to cause a headache for the French government”, says The Guardian.
France’s 5.4 million state workers are angry over plans to cut the public sector by 120,000 workers by 2022, with unions accusing Macron of seeking to dismantle the state sector, and about the introduction of merit-based pay.
The coordinated day of action is the first widespread strike seen in France since President Macron came to power just under a year ago, on a promise to reform the country’s bloated public sector and shake up its antiquated labour laws.
However, “opinion polls show a paradox” says Reuters: a majority of voters back the strike but an even bigger majority back the reforms, including cutting the number of public sector workers and introducing merit-based pay.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
“That has led the government, which overhauled labour laws last year and is crafting a series of other reforms to unemployment insurance and training, to say it will stand by its plans, while keeping a close eye on protests,” reports the news agency.
The danger, says CNN, “will come in the longer term if unions are able to persuade their members to stay home for longer, which could lead to wider economic repercussions”.
-
Trump wants to exert control over federal architectureThe Explainer Beyond his ballroom, Trump has several other architectural plans in mind
-
6 well-crafted log homesFeature Featuring a floor-to-ceiling rock fireplace in Montana and a Tulikivi stove in New York
-
‘The nonviolence resulted from the organizers’ message’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
The WW2 massacre dividing Senegal and FranceUnder the Radar A new investigation found the 1944 Thiaroye attack on ‘unarmed’ African soldiers was ‘premeditated’, and far deadlier than previously recorded
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Prime minister shocks France with resignationSpeed Read French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu submitted his government’s resignation after less than a month in office
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024