Trade unions are calling for a one-day strike on Thursday, September 18, to protest the " austerity " budgetary measures announced by the government this summer. The mobilization promises to be particularly well-attended, with social and fiscal justice as the main theme. The various organizations (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, FSU, and Solidaires) will march side by side for the first time since 2023—the date of the very strong mobilization against pension reform.

More than two years after these demonstrations, which brought more than a million people into the streets, the unions are hoping to repeat their feat of strength. Authorities are expecting 800,000 people this Thursday in major cities and the approximately 250 demonstrations announced throughout France . This is far more than the "Block Everything" civic day on September 10, which brought together 200,000 people, according to the police.

The reasons for anger are mounting. Between announcements of budget cuts and political instability, unions hope to influence the public debate. They are largely supported by a population that denounces social and fiscal injustices. The organizations emphasize the government's policy of job insecurity and call for shared efforts, with particular attention to the taxation of high net worth individuals. The change of Prime Minister and the abandonment of the elimination of two public holidays have failed to calm the dialogue.

Other demands include defending public services, ending budget cuts, and opposing further unemployment insurance reform. Unions are also concerned about the freezing of social benefits and the de-indexation of retirement pensions.

For Frédéric Souillot, the general secretary of Force Ouvrière, " activists are ready to mobilize. The anger, it was muted and now it's going to be expressed in the streets and it's going to be expressed in the streets and through strikes. There really needs to be an awareness ," he explains.

And he added: " What I would like is for politicians, whoever they are, to assume their responsibilities. They managed the state budget, the 1   000   billions of additional debt since 2017 and today, the bill for "whatever it takes" is presented to us as acquired by the greatest number, that is to say, the workers. And when we present the bill to the workers, the workers say stop .

The Secretary General of the Workers' Force will meet with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu next Monday. Union representatives are maintaining pressure on the government, hoping to influence budgetary decisions, particularly the taxation of high net worth individuals.

A major device deployed

Authorities are expecting a massive turnout of between 50,000 and 100,000 people in Paris. The inter-union demonstration is expected to begin from Place de la Bastille, passing through Place de la République and then to Place de la Nation. There could also be a thousand radical activists. Intelligence services expect up to 8,000 at-risk individuals across the country. Approximately 80,000 police officers and gendarmes are deployed across the country.

Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez says he fears the presence of numerous rioters in the capital. Activists dressed in black, wearing hoods, attacking shops and street furniture. This is the image authorities fear on the fringes of the Paris demonstration. Territorial intelligence expects 1,000 black blocs or activists to lead the procession.

To deal with any potential disturbances, 6,000 police officers and gendarmes have been mobilized. Centaurs, the gendarmerie's new armored vehicles, as well as helicopters and water cannons, will also be deployed in support. And to try to intercept any violent groups, checks and searches are planned at the exits of RER and metro stations as well as at the gates of the ring road. Two mobile force units will be deployed in front of the procession, while other mobile forces will move hidden along the flanks of the route. The goal is to adapt to a sometimes shifting and unpredictable protest.

Once the black blocs had dispersed, the police were instructed to return to the flanks of the procession to avoid any police provocation.

Disruptions to expect

Train traffic will be disrupted across France, according to SNCF. On Intercités lines, one in two trains is scheduled, and one in three for TER trains. For TGV trains, " some disruptions are expected [...], but all customers should be able to travel ." On the RATP side, with the exception of the automatic lines, the metro will only run during rush hour, i.e., between 6:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. and between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. RER trains will also be disrupted.

All hospital staff have been called to strike by the inter-union. On the doctors' side, the main union federation, the "Action Practitioners Hospital" (APH) coalition, is calling for " support " for the movement. In healthcare facilities, however, the administration has the power to requisition some staff to maintain " continuity of care ." Pharmacists, mobilized against a reduction in the ceiling on commercial discounts for generic drugs, are being called for a " massive closure " of pharmacies and to demonstrate, according to the two main unions in the sector, the USPO and the FSPF.

The FSU-Snuipp, the leading primary school union, predicts that a third of primary school teachers (nursery and elementary schools) will be on strike. In Paris, the union estimates the strike rate at over 45%, with at least 90 schools closed. In middle and high schools, unions are also calling for action. The appointment of Sébastien Lecornu has " not reduced anger ," says Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU, the main secondary school union.

The eight unions representing the 5.8 million public sector workers are unanimously calling for a strike against the cost-cutting measures. The last significant mobilization dates back to December 5, 2024, when nearly 20% of state civil servants, led by the education sector, marched in particular against the extension of the waiting period. This time, the organizations are targeting the elimination of 3,000 public sector jobs and the pay freeze announced by the previous government.