France sees record protest turnout as workers demand higher wages

Nearly 600,000 people joined demonstrations across France on Thursday marking the biggest turnout since the current protest movement began according to provisional figures released by the Interior Ministry.

Nearly 600,000 people joined demonstrations across France on Thursday marking the biggest turnout since the current protest movement began according to provisional figures released by the Interior Ministry.

The estimate, reported by BFMTV represents a significant increase compared with previous demonstrations. Authorities recorded around 550,000 participants on October 17 followed by 410,000 on October 24 and 320,000 on October 31.

However, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) one of France’s major trade union organisations put the nationwide attendance considerably higher at nearly 1.6 million. The union also estimated that approximately 350,000 people participated in the Paris march between Place de la Republique and Place de la Nation.

The demonstrations were accompanied by a nationwide strike over wages declining purchasing power and concerns about public services. CGT Secretary-General Sophie Binet described the industrial action as highly effective and called on the government to address workers’ demands.

Speaking during the Paris rally Binet urged authorities to introduce pay increases for all workers and raise the minimum wage by 10 per cent. She also declared that the movement would continue until its demands received a response.

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The strike affected educational institutions across the country. According to the Education Ministry, nearly 16 per cent of teachers participated in the industrial action. The Higher Education Ministry reported disruptions at 60 of France’s 184 universities and other higher education institutions.

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Meanwhile the SNES-FSU union estimated that 52 per cent of middle and high school staff had joined the strike. Police also intervened to clear student blockades in several cities, including Paris and Bordeaux.

To manage the demonstrations the Interior Ministry deployed 70,000 police officers and gendarmes nationwide.

Amid growing pressure from trade unions, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that a social conference involving union representatives and employers’ organisations would take place at Matignon on Monday, November 9.

The latest demonstrations follow a student-led protest movement that began in mid-September initially focusing on education conditions, funding and staffing shortages.