Despite the fall of Michel Barnier's government the day before, the civil service strike took place on Thursday, December 5. Rallies and actions were held throughout France at the call of the inter-union.
Published on 05/12/2024 20:39
Reading time: 2min
A mobilization in the midst of a political crisis. The day after the fall of the government, several tens of thousands of public employees went on strike and demonstrated on Thursday, December 5, to warn of the “deterioration” of their “working conditions and remuneration”. The demonstrations brought together 200,000 people in 160 processions and rallies across France, the CGT reported, while the authorities reported 130,000 demonstrators.
In the capital, a massive procession arrived at Place d'Italie in the middle of the afternoon. Despite the cold, wind and rain, demonstrators responded to defend public services. Among them, there are many teachers including this teacher from Vigneux-sur-Seine. For the first time, his primary school closed during a strike. “It's a general fed-up. There's a lack of consideration, the days of deficiency that were in the pipeline, we're not getting any help when it comes to inclusion. We're seeing children who are suffering because we lack help to support them, so it’s a bit general.”
-Anger, even if the three-day waiting period in the event of sick leave and the budget for 2025 are in fact abandoned with the fall of the government. But here, we are mobilizing to warn the future government. There is no question of attacking civil servants, who are too often attacked. “We always treat civil servants as big wankers and I can tell you that we work more than ten hours a day for what concerns us in culture, so be fed up.”
This protester who works in municipal culture shares her anger but she no longer expects anything from the president. “I no longer have any expectations of Emmanuel Macron who constantly despises the people. He has already not followed the results of the polls in September, so I do not think he will follow it this time.”
Bruno, crossed in the demonstration, has one main request: “That the pension reform is repealed and that someone who defends it is put as Prime Minister, that would be the first thing. I believe in it, but perhaps not with the government that will come. not immediately, we will have to wait perhaps months or even years. We can ask for Macron's resignation, that would really be a solution but he will not do it.
The slogan “only one solution. Macron resign!” was heard a lot and seen on the signs in the Parisian procession.
France