Major French union files mass strike notice for autumn
Three-month announcement may trigger wider strike action by several unions
Several sectors could be impacted and other unions may join in
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A major French union has called for an autumn strike across several sectors, in response to the controversial 2026 budget.
Force ouvrière (FO), France’s third-largest union, has called on all members to strike from September 1 to November 30 in response to the ‘brutal’ plans in the 2026 budget by French Prime Minister François Bayrou.
In a letter addressed to Mr Bayrou, Frédéric Souillot, the general secretary of the FO, “(called) on employees and workers in the private and public sectors to mobilise and strike against the budgetary measures.”
The letter "serves as a strike notice for sectors where legislation requires it,” it adds and could be the beginning of potentially wider strike action in the country.
With the strike still a month away, it is currently unclear how disruptive or supported it will be.
Will other unions join?
“All union organisations are unanimous in rejecting austerity policies that make workers, those in precarious employment, job seekers, and retirees pay,” said Mr Souillot.
However, as of the end of July, no other union has officially called on members to join in the action.
A petition by an inter-union group calling for Mr Bayrou to scrap plans for the budget, which will not be officially introduced to parliament until autumn, has some 275,000 signatures.
The inter-union group comprises France’s eight largest unions.
Policies set to be passed in the budget include the removal of two public holidays and a freeze on government spending.
A meeting between the unions is set to be held on September 1, where they will decide on further action to be taken. It is thought that the FO’s call may spur other unions into action.
An online group is also calling for civil disobedience from September onwards in response to the budget announcement.
