French protest movements following the November 5 nationwide strike, Digi Mart USA News (France): October was a very social month in France, and November promises to be just as busy. A major nationwide strike took place on Thursday, November 5, 2026, bringing together 575,000 people according to the government, but nearly 1.6 million according to the unions.
These demonstrations are part of a national movement against the high cost of living, involving public and private sector employees as well as the Gilets jaunes. Leaders of the CFDT and CGT once again called for a substantial increase in the minimum wage (Smic) and, beyond that, raises for salaries as a whole.
In parallel, since late September, high school and university students have been blocking their institutions and demanding better teaching conditions. According to the Snes-FSU, the main secondary education union, nearly 1,000 high schools were blocked or administratively closed on Thursday, while Matignon counted only 81 out of the country’s 3,700.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced a social conference next Monday, aimed at “providing answers to questions of purchasing power and wages,” but unions judged the government’s response too weak and too late. Although the unions have not announced a new strike day for now, the various protest movements are expected to continue in France in the coming days.
Here is an overview.
Following the November 5 strike organized by the unions, the Gilets jaunes want to hold a “six-seven” of militant action, with protests on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7. The highlight will be a rally in the streets of the capital starting at 2 p.m.
on Saturday, November 7.
“Act IV. All together at the Concorde at 2 p.m.,” the national coordination of the Gilets jaunes posted on social media, according to Actu Paris.
The national Gilets jaunes coordination called for continuing and expanding the strike on November 6 and 7 for real equality, with blockades and mobilizations across France, followed by large demonstrations throughout the country on Saturday, November 7. Gilets jaunes member and lawyer David Libeskind also called on protesters to carry out “peaceful civil disobedience” on November 7.
According to the interactive map published by the Gilets jaunes website, few people have announced a gathering so far. Seven mobilizations were announced for November 6 and 51 for Saturday, November 7, though these figures change constantly.
For now, most gatherings have not been declared. The main unions have not specified whether they will follow this movement.
The high school and student unions have not yet announced whether blockades will continue next week. The statements currently available suggest the unions want the movement to continue until their demands are heard.
The president of the Union syndicale lycéenne (USL) had announced last weekend, according to AFP, his intention to block high schools and universities “as long as necessary to finally win and have decent conditions in this country.”
For the Gilets jaunes, the fifth act already has a name: “for the present and future of youth.” Demonstrations by the Enfantiste collective against violence toward children, across France and Europe, and a mobilization by the September 26 movement for the present and future of children, are announced for Saturday, November 14, 2026.
“The national Gilets jaunes coordination calls on everyone to support and take part in all the mobilizations held this Saturday, November 14 by the Enfantistes and by the movement for climate, living things, peace and social justice,” the site states.
On November 20, 21 and 22, European mobilizations against the high cost of living: according to AFP, trade unions and housing rights associations from seven countries called on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 for “coordinated demonstrations” against the high cost of living at the end of November, a rare joint mobilization.
After scattered protests in several European countries, representatives of organizations from Belgium, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal, meeting in Paris, said they hoped to bring “millions” of people into the streets on November 20, 21 and 22.
At a “crucial moment” of purchasing power crisis in Europe, “we have decided to coordinate to move forward together,” said Carme Arcarazo, spokesperson for the Confederation of Spanish Tenant Unions, which initiated the meeting, at a press briefing.
“By the millions, we will take to the streets and show that the people must lead, not the billionaires,” said Benjamin Ball, a member of the Gilets jaunes coordination who also attended the meeting. It remains to be seen whether these movements will be followed in France.
