France braces for mass strike as protests hit schools, rails and ports

France is bracing for a nationwide strike on Thursday, with hundreds of thousands of people expected to march in demonstrations called by trade unions across the country. The walkouts are set to reach hospital workers, air traffic control, the post office, teachers and rail staff, according to The Guardian.

The country's four main rail unions didn't mince words ahead of the action, saying the government's proposed budget cuts would worsen poverty, slash social security, freeze state workers' salaries and dry up investment needed for environmental measures. The national rail operator SNCF warned of disturbances on regional lines and parts of the greater Paris area, dockers flagged disruption at French ports, and the education ministry expects almost 18% of nursery and primary school teachers to walk out. Unions expect secondary teachers to join them.

Students are already out in force. High schoolers have been blockading schools over overcrowded classes and dilapidated buildings, arguing that the government's plans to cap some class sizes and loan money to regional authorities for repairs don't go far enough. University students have joined by blockading some faculties, and even private school teachers' unions are striking alongside state school teachers.

The unrest lands in the final months of President Emmanuel Macron's time in office, a stretch already marked by domestic crises. Workers have been protesting weekly over the cost of living, and the government is struggling to push a belt-tightening budget through a divided parliament while public debt approaches 120% of economic output. Meanwhile, far-right, anti-immigration candidate Marine Le Pen is polling high for the 2027 presidential election to replace Macron next spring.

Rights groups are furious over what they call heavy policing and an authoritarian attempt by Macron's executive to clamp down on the right to demonstrate. The French Human Rights League described an authoritarian shift aimed at stifling any dissenting voice, pointing to restrictions on protesting in city centres and curfews in certain areas.

Sophie Binet, head of the leftwing CGT union, said: We're living at a very serious time with a very dangerous authoritarian drift from the government, criticising moves by authorities in cities such as Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon to push demonstrations out of city centres. Marylise Léon, who leads the moderate CFDT union, pushed back simply: The principle of a demonstration is its visibility.