French unions call cross-sector general strike for 5 November over 2027 budget

Joint strike call across sectors

Five French trade union confederations announced a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations for Thursday, 5 November 2026. The decision, published on Monday, 5 October 2026, represents the first cross-sector mobilization covering both public and private sector employees since the start of the September return. The inter-union alliance bringing forward the call brings together the CFDT, which is France's largest trade union by membership, alongside the CGT, FO, UNSA, and the FSU. The labor organizations jointly appealed to private sector staff, civil servants, retirees, and youth to join the walkouts and street rallies to register their opposition to current government policy.

The anger is immense. The situation of the country is fragile. We must respond without delay to social and environmental emergencies.

Opposition to the 2027 draft budget

The call for action follows the presentation of the executive's draft budget for 2027, which contains multiple spending cuts and freezes on statutory increases for social benefits despite continuing inflation. The union alliance warned that the fiscal roadmap reduces resources for public administration and weakens social protection mechanisms. According to union representatives, the fiscal choices outlined by the government worsen conditions for vulnerable populations, lower-income households, and patients requiring medical care.

Fuel, food, rent, gas, electricity... everything is going up except wages and pensions. Our country is on the brink of recession.

The CGT criticized the government's curtailment of the protective role of the Social Security system. Labor federations pointed to what they termed a severe downgrading of working people across the country, whose purchasing power continues to erode against living costs.

Demands for wage increases and tax reform

The inter-union platform is demanding an immediate across-the-board raise in salaries across the economy, higher statutory minimum wages, and increases to retirement pensions. For public sector employees, the unions are calling for an immediate upward revision of the civil service index point alongside dedicated measures to improve pay and working conditions. Beyond direct remuneration, the joint platform seeks broader economic and industrial reforms, including environmental planning and increased budgetary resources for public services.

The unions also called on the government and employers to implement fiscal justice measures. These proposals include targeted taxation on private wealth, high-value inheritances, and corporate dividend distributions to fund state services and employment.

Alignment with high school protests

The announcement of the November strike coincides with escalating demonstrations by secondary school students across France. High school students organized protests and school blockades in several French cities during early October, with a third day of nationwide student action scheduled for Tuesday, 6 October 2026. While the trade unions emphasized that they respect the organisational autonomy of the student movement, the inter-union alliance officially endorsed their demands for improved educational conditions and greater equality.

While respecting the independence of the high school movement, our organizations share the demands for better studying conditions and greater equality.

The CGT added that the grievances and concerns of young people must be addressed by authorities, stating that youth should be able to study, train, and build their future under decent conditions. Union federations plan further coordination meetings in the coming weeks before the planned nationwide action on 5 November 2026.