French unions launch nationwide strikes over pay and budget

Five French unions joined a national day of strikes and protests on Thursday, 5 November, with authorities expecting 500,000 to 700,000 people at more than 250 actions across the country. The unions are demanding higher wages to meet living costs and protection for public services. The action has spread from high school students protesting poor conditions in education to workers and the yellow-vest movement, the BBC reported. Reuters reported that President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to prevent a repeat of the unrest in October.

The Japan Times reported that the protests come as a budget impasse deepens. In Paris, tens of thousands were expected. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police and gendarmes would be deployed and promised "an extremely firm response" to any violence. He cited risks from radical left "black blocs", looting and unauthorised wildcat marches, according to the BBC.

The CFDT union's head, Marylise Léon, said the minimum wage, known as the Smic and set at €12.31 an hour, was not the only issue. "We are asking for a net increase of €100 a month," she said. Sophie Binet, another union leader, called the day "a great day of convergence" and said: "The time has come to take the mobilisation to the next level; the strike must take over."

Disruption was reported in schools, hospitals and public transport. The education ministry said 81 lycées, high schools for 15 to 18 year olds, were shut on Thursday morning and about 17.5% of primary schools were affected. Workers were asked to halt production at oil refineries. The BBC reported that France was expected to import more electricity than it produced on Thursday because of disruption at nuclear plants.

The government has tried to answer anger over prices by releasing 10 million barrels of diesel from strategic reserves, the BBC reported. Ministers also promised to reform the Parcoursup university admissions platform and eventually replace it by 2028.

The Paris march was allowed through the centre but not on the route the unions proposed between Place de la Bastille and Place de la Concorde, which would have passed near the National Assembly, the Élysée Palace and the prime minister's residence. The march was set to run from Place de la République to Place de la Nation. The CFDT complained that court approval for the route came only on Wednesday evening, making organisation harder.

The BBC reported that earlier marches were kept away from central Paris after violence on 17 October led to more than 2,000 stores being looted and historic buildings set on fire. The interior minister said the police deployment would be similar to last weekend's mobilisation, which passed with relatively little violence. The yellow-vest movement called for further blockades and protests on Friday and Saturday.