France gripped by nationwide day of strikes: wage hike demands and clashes in Lyon and Paris

On November 5, 2026, the CGT, CFDT and FO unions held a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations in France demanding wage increases, tax justice and better public services. In Lyon, police used tear gas; in Paris, a court changed the march route, with metro stations and schools closed.

Aziz KarimovFirst published on tafs uz 5 November 2026 at 17:182 min read

The key facts

On November 5, strikes and about 250 rallies took place in France at the call of CGT, CFDT and FO; more than 1,100 strike notices were filed
In Lyon, clashes with about 500 demonstrators, tear gas, six arrests, all metro lines and funiculars halted
In Paris, a court upheld the ban on the route from the Bastille to Place de la Concorde; 40,000–80,000 participants were expected, 25 metro stations and about 80 schools were closed

Nationwide mobilization

On Thursday, November 5, 2026, France was swept by a nationwide day of strikes and demonstrations. At the call of the country's largest trade unions — CGT, CFDT and FO — around 250 rallies were planned, more than 1,100 strike notices were filed, and about 70,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed to maintain order. Protesters demanded wage increases, a higher minimum wage, tax justice, better public services and protection of the right to protest. This was reported by Euronews.

Lyon: clashes and transport shutdown

In Lyon, according to the organizers, more than 25,000 people took part in the march toward Place Jean-Macé along a court-approved route — despite restrictions on demonstrations across much of the city center. Tension arose at the very start: police reported clashes with roughly 500 demonstrators who threw objects and set pallets on fire. Officers used tear gas, and the column was pushed back after just 600 meters of the route. Six arrests were reported. All four metro lines and both funicular lines were halted, and the rest of public transport was severely disrupted.

Paris: rerouted march and closed schools

In Paris, the unions agreed to a route from Place de la République to Place de la Nation after a court upheld the police prefecture's decision to reject their preferred route from the Bastille to Place de la Concorde. The demonstration began at 2:00 p.m.; the authorities expected between 40,000 and 80,000 participants. Due to security measures and transport disruptions, 25 metro stations were closed, bus and tram routes were altered, and around 80 schools in the capital did not operate. At the Hélène Boucher high school in the east of the city, police intervened after students blocked the school entrance with wheeled garbage containers: officers ordered the crowd to disperse and removed the makeshift barricades, after which a brief scuffle broke out — video footage shows one student being led away and several others nearby being searched.