Five unions stage general strike against 2027 budget: "Everything goes up except wages and pensions"

France's five largest unions, CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU, called a joint cross-sector strike and demonstrations on November 5 against the draft 2027 budget. The call covers public and private sector workers, young people and pensioners.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's draft, according to Economie Matin, includes 54 billion euros in cuts, close to two percent of GDP, while other sources cite 43 billion euros in measures, 5.5 billion of which fall on pensioners. The unions oppose a freeze on civil service pay and the blocking of automatic indexation of social benefits. "Everything goes up except wages and pensions," they said.

What they want

The unions want pay talks, higher pensions and minimum wage, taxes on wealth, inheritance and dividends, and a review of 211 billion euros in public aid to companies. "The anger is immense. The country's situation is fragile," their joint statement says.

Update, November 5 evening

The interior ministry counted about 600,000 protesters and the unions "close to 1.6 million"; tear gas was used in Lyon. More in Biggest protest of the movement.