French workers flood streets for anti-government protests
Thousands of government workers, teachers, transport employees and other union workers in France walked off the job Thursday to express their frustration with low wages and the high cost of living.
Key points
- French unions and the Interior Ministry gave widely different crowd figures: 1.6 million versus about 600,000.
- Protests began in late September among Paris students over school conditions and teacher shortages.
- Police used tear gas in some areas, and a car was torched in Lyon.
Tens of thousands of government workers, teachers, transport employees and other union members in France went on strike Thursday and joined nationwide economic protests over low wages and the high cost of living. Nearly 200 peaceful rallies were held across the country, and the demonstrations briefly shut down the Eiffel Tower.
The General Confederation of Labour (GCL) said about 1.6 million people took to the streets, while France's Interior Ministry put the figure at about 600,000.
Union leader criticises Macron
Sophie Binet, head of the GCL, told CBS News that "Our salaries do not allow us to live anymore." She urged supporters to keep protesting and accused President Emmanuel Macron of not hearing calls for help, saying he works for the rich and finance rather than working people.
Bally Bagayoko, mayor of the Paris suburb Saint-Denis, told CBS News that Macron is "incapable of bringing answers" and that protesters are tired of a society that leaves behind deep inequalities. Several protesters said they want less spending on the military and domestic law enforcement and more funding for social services.
Our salaries do not allow us to live anymore
— Sophie Binet
Violence and next steps
Some rallies turned violent, with police using tear gas and clashes breaking out at several demonstrations. Protesters torched a car in Lyon and burned objects in the streets of Paris.
The protests began in late September among high school and university students in Paris over poor school conditions, teacher shortages and infrastructure problems, then spread with wider backing. Local surveys show nearly six in 10 people in France support them. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called a meeting with unions on Monday, and another protest is scheduled for Saturday.
