Paris unions stage strikes to pressure government ahead of 2026 budget talks

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Paris on Tuesday as French unions staged nationwide strikes and demonstrations to press the government on its 2026 budget proposals.

Organised by the CGT, FSU, and Solidaires unions, the action comes as lawmakers debate the Social Security budget in the National Assembly.

Union leaders said the strike aims to oppose austerity measures included in the 2026 budget and to demand increased funding for public services, higher wages, and the preservation of jobs and pensions.

“Workers have already paid the price. It’s not because of us that the deficits have exploded. It’s because of handouts to CEOs and billionaires. And so it’s up to them to pay, not us,” Sophie Binet, head of the CGT, told reporters at a rally in central Paris.

Protests in the capital began at 2pm from Place de la Bourse, with placards calling for a “budget for social progress” and warning against cuts to healthcare, pensions, and public sector salaries.

The unions are particularly critical of planned reductions in teaching and public service posts, which could see 4,000 positions cut in schools and 3,000 across the civil service.

Despite the widespread walkouts, transportation in Paris and across France remained largely unaffected. The SNCF reported that high-speed TGV services and Eurostar trains operated normally, while the RATP indicated that Metro, bus, tram, and commuter rail services in the Paris region ran on schedule. Authorities also said that air travel would not be significantly impacted.

Education unions called for classroom closures in primary and secondary schools, citing concerns over frozen salaries, worsening working conditions, and staff shortages. Public service unions warned that administrative offices, including town halls, tax offices, and employment agencies, could face partial closures due to the strike.

The unions’ actions are also intended to signal strong public opposition to the government’s fiscal policies, increasing pressure on MPs to reconsider contentious measures such as the suspension of the 2023 pension reform, which raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.

The final vote on the Social Security financing bill, a central piece of the 2026 budget, is scheduled for 9 December, making the strikes a timely intervention.

Organisers said the day of action would include around 150 demonstrations nationwide, highlighting broad dissatisfaction with proposed austerity and fiscal policies.

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