November 5 strike and union protests in Burgundy, France, Digi Mart USA News (France): On Thursday, November 5, the intersyndicale, a coalition of the CGT, CFDT, Force ouvrière, CFE-CGC, CFTC, UNSA, Solidaires and FSU, is calling for demonstrations across France. The unions cite the defense of jobs and rights, better working conditions and wages, and the protection of public services and industry.
The unions say the mobilization is a new step in social protest against government measures. The CGT, in a message on its social media accounts, said workers refuse to pay the cost of what it called austerity choices, and argued that wages should come before profits.
In Burgundy, nine demonstrations have been announced across the region’s departments. In Côte-d’Or, the protest begins at 2 p.m.
at Place de la Libération in Dijon.
In Saône-et-Loire, five calls to demonstrate have been issued. The first rallies are scheduled for 10 a.m.
in Le Creusot in front of the Alto, in Mâcon in front of the maison des syndicats, and in Autun in front of the kiosque. A second rally in Autun takes place at 11:30 a.m., and from 2 p.m.
a mobilization will be held in front of the maison des syndicats in Chalon-sur-Saône.
In the Yonne, the day begins at 10 a.m. in Sens at the Pépinière citizens’ space, followed by a 2 p.m.
demonstration at Place de l’Arquebuse in Auxerre. In the Nièvre, a single demonstration is planned in Nevers at 2:30 p.m.
in front of the Palais ducal.
Alain Gaillard, departmental secretary of the CGT in Saône-et-Loire, described the call as broad. He said the cost of living is a major demand and that the union denounces wage difficulties.
He also pointed to workplace deaths, calling France’s record on the issue a reality that must be addressed, and said he expects many people in the department to respond.
Kemal Batirbek, regional secretary of the CFDT for the Yonne, said the union distributed leaflets on Wednesday, November 3, and that 80 to 90 percent of people are in agreement with the union’s demands.
Disruptions are expected in public services, particularly schools and hospitals. Transport unions have joined the movement, so local transit, TGV high-speed trains and regional trains could also be affected.
The main disruptions will only become clear during the day.
The mobilization comes amid a broader context that includes a student movement and recent Yellow Vest protests over the past three weekends. As of now, no call to demonstrate has been issued in Burgundy for November 7 on the 17octobregiletjaune site, which lists protest actions.
Gaillard said the CGT calls on supporters to back those already engaged in the struggle, while Batirbek said further calls to demonstrate or follow-up actions could be launched until Parliament completes its review of the budget.
