France’s leading primary school teachers’ union, FSU-Snuipp, anticipates that 10% of kindergarten and elementary school teachers will participate in a national strike scheduled for Thursday, October 2, 2025. The industrial action aims to maintain pressure on the government regarding ongoing budgetary concerns.
While acknowledging “there is still a lot of anger,” Aurélie Gagné, co-secretary general of FSU-Snuipp, noted to AFP that the expected strike rate is lower than a previous mobilization on September 18. She attributed this reduced participation to “political uncertainty hindering mobilization.” On September 18, the union had projected 30% of primary teachers would strike, though official figures from the Ministry of Education indicated roughly one in six teachers across both primary and secondary levels participated.
The previous strike saw higher participation in secondary education, with SNES-FSU, the leading secondary teachers’ union, reporting a 45% strike rate among middle and high school staff on September 18. Higher turnout is also anticipated in secondary schools for the upcoming October 2 strike.
For parents, regulations stipulate that children must still be accommodated at school even if their teacher participates in the strike. If less than 25% of teachers are declared on strike in a particular school, the regional education authority is responsible for organizing student reception using non-striking staff. However, if 25% or more teachers are on strike, the local council (municipality) then takes responsibility for arranging alternative care. This could be within the school itself, even if partially closed, or at other local facilities such as a gymnasium, leisure centre, or community hall. School directors are required to inform parents of the anticipated impact of the strike on class operations, often by displaying notices at the school entrance.
