French strike rights and restricted professions, Digi Mart USA News (France): Thursday, November 5, 2026, marks a strike call affecting private-sector employees, public servants, retirees, young people and students. But can everyone in France really go on strike?
TF1 Info addressed that question in a segment by Karim Bennani, broadcast on “Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1.”
Bruce Toussaint noted that the right to strike is a fundamental right in France, enshrined in the Constitution since 1946, which marks 80 years this year. In practical terms, the right allows employees to stop work to press professional demands, and it applies to both the private sector and the civil service.
There is an important difference between the two. In the private sector, no advance notice is generally required.
In many public services, however, unions must in principle file notice several days in advance. Bennani stressed that the right is not absolute, and that some professionals are not permitted to stop working at all.
Bennani walked Toussaint through a short quiz on several professions. National police officers cannot strike, while municipal police may do so under certain conditions.
Military personnel and gendarmes are also barred. Civilian professional firefighters have struck recently, but not all of them have the right; military firefighters in Paris and Marseille cannot strike because they are soldiers.
Judges, prosecutors, magistrates, prison guards, and certain agents handling communications systems for the Ministry of the Interior are also prohibited from striking. Bennani explained that the state must always guarantee national security, the functioning of justice, and continuity of essential services, and that public servants can sometimes be requisitioned.
Certain professions, such as air traffic controllers, may strike but must maintain a minimum service.
