French students and unions call nationwide Tuesday mobilisation after talks with minister fail
Student organisations and education unions have called a fresh nationwide mobilisation for Tuesday 6 October, saying Friday's meeting with the education minister produced no concrete measures; the CGT, Solidaires, FSU and Force Ouvrière federations are backing the day of action.
French student organisations and education unions have called another nationwide mobilisation for Tuesday 6 October, announcing demonstrations and strike action after Friday’s meeting with Education Minister Edouard Geffray failed to end the crisis, Le Figaro reported via The News.
The organisations said the talks had produced no sufficient “concrete measures” to address their concerns over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating school buildings. Several education unions have backed the 6 October action, calling on teachers and other staff to join students in strikes and demonstrations.
The call was broadened on Friday when Sabrine Kharbach, a representative of the student union federation, told France Inter radio: “We call on trade unions and political organizations that say they share the youth’s demands to join us for street demonstrations across the country on Tuesday, October 6.” Al Mayadeen reported the appeal was aimed at taking the mobilisation beyond student groups.
Trade unions have responded. The CGT, Solidaires, FSU and Force Ouvrière union federations have backed a day of action on Tuesday 6 October, according to Socialist Worker, which reports the CGT’s État section called on “public sector workers to support the ongoing student mobilisations” and reminded members it had “filed a strike notice covering the period until 31 October”.
The planned mobilisation follows days of violent unrest. Reuters reported about 400 high schools were closed on Friday and more than 2,000 people arrested during the protests. Authorities estimate the damage could reach tens of millions of euros, according to Le Figaro.
In a concession, Geffray has announced the government will abandon planned registration fees for some higher education programmes amid the protests.
Sources: https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1418528-france-school-protests-to-continue-as-students-call-for-nationwide-action | https://english.almayadeen.net/news/miscellaneous/french-students-urge-unions-to-join-october-6-protests | https://socialistworker.co.uk/international/the-students-mobilisation-is-our-mobilisation-say-french-workers-joining-student-protests/ | https://www.theweek.in/news/world/2026/10/03/over-700-schools-closed-in-france-after-student-protest-clash-with-riot-police.html
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