PARIS – Labor unions in France have rallied together to announce a national strike and day of protests on September 18, opposing the government’s proposed budget for 2026. The announcement came on Friday following a meeting at the headquarters of the CFDT union in Paris. This renewed mobilization echoes the unity seen during the opposition to the pension reforms in 2023.
The coalition of unions, including CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, Unsa, FSU, and Solidaires, began the day with a petition that had already gathered over 360,000 signatures. Dubbed the “museum of horrors” by critics, the budget proposals by Prime Minister François Bayrou have sparked significant unrest across the country.
Marylise Léon, head of the CFDT, emphasized the need for clear demands and an inclusive call to action that would allow all who wish to protest to join in. She voiced these intentions during an interview with BFMTV on Thursday evening.
### Divided Responses Ahead of Upcoming Protests
The imminent strike on September 18 was announced shortly after another protest was scheduled by the “Bloquons tout” movement for September 10. This earlier demonstration, reminiscent of the Yellow Vests protests from late 2018 through early 2019, has seen mixed support from various union factions and political groups.
The CGT has expressed support for the September 10 protest, despite concerns from its leader Sophie Binet about possible far-right influence. They hope this date will mark a successful beginning to broader acts of resistance, with several federations, including those from the chemistry and commerce sectors, encouraging participation.
Left-leaning political groups have also thrown their support behind the September 10 protest, with La France insoumise calling for a general strike. Solidaires has joined the call for mobilization, and Force Ouvrière is expected to finalize its stance by Friday, with leader Frédéric Souillot maintaining cautious engagement due to discomfort with the involvement of non-representative groups.
However, not all unions are fully on board with the September 10 protest. The CFDT has chosen not to back this movement, stating through Secretary General Léon that the methods proposed—total blockage and disobedience—do not align with their approach. Similarly, CFE-CGC President François Hommeril has criticized the protest call as “nebulous and politically charged,” indicating discord within union ranks about the protest strategies.
