French civil servant unions reject Lecornu's pay offer and back 17 November strike

The government's offer

On Friday, 13 November, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu received public-sector union representatives at Matignon, a first in almost 20 years. The measures were presented as emergency pay increases for the lowest salaries, following a 1.6% rise in the minimum wage (Smic) due on 1 December, which had been announced on Monday, 9 November. Minister David Amiel said the measures concern 1.35 million civil servants, of whom 1.1 million have their base pay brought up to the new minimum wage level. Around 660,000 agents will still receive a differential allowance to close the gap, because no civil servant may earn less than the Smic.

The government also said additional index points will go to staff in the first pay steps. Amiel's office stated the measures should cost "several hundred million euros" without changing the 5% of GDP public deficit target for 2027.

“Additional index points will also be awarded in the first pay steps to better recognise seniority and restore value to career progression.”

Unions reject the offer

Union leaders said the measures fall short of their demands. Sophie Binet, the head of the CGT, said the announcements were completely out of step with what civil servants are asking for and warned there would be no way out of the crisis without a rise in the index point.

“There is no way out of the crisis without an increase in the index point.”

Unions want a general increase in the value of the index point, which sets civil servants' base pay, along with indexation to inflation. The government ruled this out in July, arguing that a 1% rise in the index point would cost 2.4 billion euros, and repeated that position on Friday. The CFDT said it would join the 17 November public-sector strike call, while Marylise Léon, who leads the union in the private sector, had earlier been cautious about joining.

Pay grids and next steps

Lecornu announced a one-month discussion on five work streams, including an overhaul of the salary grids that set civil servants' career progression. He will meet the unions again on 11 December, after the civil service professional elections, with the aim of sealing progress by mid-December. The strike on 17 November is the next test for the government, which faces the unions' demand for general pay increases while the 2027 budget is being prepared.

Affected by announced measures1,350,000

Base pay brought up to Smic1,100,000

Still receive differential allowance (approx.)660,000

Affected by announced measures

1350000 agents

Base pay brought up to Smic

1100000 agents

Still receive differential allowance (approx.)

660000 agents

Data from the article text