France: Unions call for educational strike in the face of government silence

Published at: 08/10/2026 10:00 AM

This Thursday, October 8, France will face a day of strikes and mobilizations in the education sector, convened by the country's main trade union organizations after massive student protests, as announced by Telesur on its website.

The measure of force, promoted by the National Union of Second Degree Education (SNES-FSU), the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Workers' Force (FO), Democratic Unitarian Solidarity (SUD) and the National Union of Autonomous Unions (UNSA), seeks to pressure the Executive after accounting for the participation of at least 450,000 people in recent demonstrations by high school students. Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of the SNES-FSU, confirmed the call during a press conference in which she questioned the official position in the face of the conflict.

The union leadership harshly criticized the “late responses” issued by the French Government, describing them as “disconnected from reality and alien to it, which reveal a desperate government”. Faced with this scenario, unions demand “extremely concrete” commitments from Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, while President Emmanuel Macron maintains public silence about the crisis in the sector.

Among the central demands of teachers and students, the cancellation of the employment cuts contemplated in the 2027 budget, the reinstatement of subcontracted workers and the restitution of resources to ensure the functioning of the public education system stand out.

Mazo News Team