The key facts

  • New 'yellow vests' protests are scheduled for October 24 and 31, to be followed by a trade union mobilization on November 5
  • CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU demand changes on wages, public services, employment and industry
  • Organizers called Macron's televised address an 'empty speech' and requested a meeting at the Élysée Palace

New schedule of actions

The coordination group behind the 'yellow vests' protests on October 17 against the high cost of living announced on Monday new demonstrations for October 24 and 31. They will take place ahead of the nationwide trade union mobilization scheduled for November. The group called the upcoming Saturday actions 'Act II' and published on its website 17octobregiletjaune.net a map on which, according to French media, dozens of planned actions are already listed.

Plan for gradual mobilization

Website editor Benjamin Ball said that the organizers initially planned to focus on preparing for November 5, when the trade union alliance called for strikes and demonstrations in the public and private sectors. However, high demand for a new round of protests pushed them to organize earlier actions. 'We are maintaining the momentum toward November 5, but we will build the movement step by step,' Ball said, describing successive mobilizations on October 24, October 31 and November 5.

Trade union demands

The trade unions CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU called for the November action on issues of wages, public services, employment and industry.

Context and reaction to Macron's address

The announcement followed nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, which in a number of French cities were accompanied by violence and looting. Ball stated that the October 17 mobilization caused a significant increase in participation, but that this is still not enough. After President Emmanuel Macron's televised address on Sunday evening, the coordination group criticized his words as an 'empty speech' and requested a meeting at the Élysée Palace together with representatives of other mobilized sectors.