Politics · France · 5 hrs ago
French unions hold mass protests for higher wages and minimum wage
French unions held nationwide protests for higher pay and a higher minimum wage, drawing large crowds across the country.
The French Interior Ministry counted 575,000 demonstrators, while the CGT union put attendance at nearly 1.6 million.
The protests were the largest in France this autumn, amid weeks of social demonstrations over living costs, schools and policing.
Prices have risen while wages and pensions have not kept up, unions said, and one union leader called for a €100 monthly net increase in the minimum wage.
Most marches were peaceful, but the Interior Ministry reported 448 arrests, 53 injured police officers and 86 arson incidents.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a social conference for Monday with worker and employer groups to discuss wages and purchasing power.
Unions say protests will continue until their demands on pay, public services, education conditions and social protection are addressed.
Hundreds of thousands of people joined a nationwide strike and protest day in France, calling for higher wages and an increase in the minimum wage.
The Interior Ministry later put attendance at 575,000, including 65,000 in Paris, while the CGT union confederation said nearly 1.6 million took part.
The largely peaceful demonstrations were marred by clashes, fires and damage to schools.
A preliminary tally recorded 448 arrests, 53 injured police officers and 86 acts of arson.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a social conference with worker and employer groups for Monday to discuss purchasing power and wages.
- Who
- French unions called the protest, and hundreds of thousands of people took part. The CGT reported nearly 1.6 million participants.
- What
- A nationwide strike and protest called for higher wages and an increase in the minimum wage.
- When
- 5 November 2026.
- Where
- Across France, including Paris and cities such as Rennes, Marseille, Nantes, Lyon, Bordeaux and Strasbourg.
- Why
- Unions demanded higher wages and a higher minimum wage, citing rising living costs and stagnant wages and pensions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Social protests over school funding, police violence and the cost of living had continued in France, led mainly by student groups and the Yellow Vests movement.
Unions held a nationwide strike and protest day; the Interior Ministry later reported 575,000 participants.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a social conference with worker and employer groups for Monday.
- Interior Ministry attendance
- 575,000 people
- CGT attendance estimate
- Nearly 1.6 million people
- Paris attendance
- 65,000 people
- Preliminary arrests
- 448
- Police officers injured
- 53
- Acts of arson
- 86
3 sources
What people are saying
Workers are experiencing an unprecedented social decline. Fuel, food, rents, gas, electricity … everything is getting more expensive, only wages and pensions are not rising
Anger is high. The situation in the country is precarious. Urgent social and environmental problems must be addressed without delay.
to find solutions to questions of purchasing power and wages