5 November nationwide strike and protests in Alsace, Digi Mart USA News (Strasbourg, France): A national strike notice has been filed for November 5, and it will affect the opening of some schools, classes and school canteens, particularly in Strasbourg.
The unions CFDT, CGT, FO, UNSA and FSU, meeting as an intersyndicale, have called for a national day of strike and demonstrations across the country on November 5, 2026, “for wages, public services, employment and industry.”
In Strasbourg, the route filed with the prefecture by the unions was refused by the Bas-Rhin prefecture, which cited the requirements of the CTS transport network and fears of damage to shops. The route was to start and end at Place de la République after a loop through the city center.
The intersyndicale in turn rejected the route proposed by the prefecture, which would run from Place de la République to Place de la Bourse via Boulevard de la Victoire and the Esplanade neighborhood.
On Tuesday, November 3, the prefecture issued an order banning any “procession, march or gathering” in Strasbourg outside the route proposed to the unions. The intersyndicale filed an urgent application with the Strasbourg administrative court on the same day.
The Human Rights League has joined the unions’ request to march in the city center.
For now, only the 2 p.m. departure from Place de la République has been confirmed.
In Mulhouse, the march will set off at 2 p.m. from the Square de la Bourse, then join Avenue Clémenceau, Porte du Miroir and Avenue du Président Kennedy before ending at Place de la République.
In Colmar, a rally will take place at 10:30 a.m. in front of the Maison des syndicats at 13 rue Turenne, with no march planned.
In a statement issued November 2, the City of Strasbourg announced that all canteens at its primary and nursery schools will be closed, as “no childcare can be provided between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.” Children must be picked up immediately after classes, at 12 p.m.
Parents do not need to take any action to cancel meals booked for that day, and they will not be charged.
As for schools, a minimum childcare service will be organized once at least 25% of a school’s teachers are on strike. Affected children may be received from 8:30 a.m.
to 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m.
to 4:30 p.m. at one of six designated schools in Strasbourg, including the Catherine nursery school for the Hautepierre and Cronenbourg neighborhoods, and the Schluthfeld primary school for the Neudorf and Port du Rhin neighborhoods.
The Strasbourg transport company CTS expects disruptions on its tram and bus network throughout the day, especially along the demonstration route. Users can check forecasts on the CTS website.
Service is expected on all lines, though at different frequencies, except bus 15, which will not operate all day. Real-time traffic information is available at 0800 00 17 70, weekdays from 7:30 a.m.
to 7 p.m.
In Mulhouse, the Soléa network has warned users that traffic will be disrupted from 1:30 p.m. in the Porte Jeune and Gare sectors, with updates posted on its website.
The SNCF has also announced disruptions on its network. It will update train traffic information for the Grand Est region on its page starting at 5 p.m.
on Wednesday, November 4.
This article is based on a publisher report from France 3 Régions and has not been independently verified.
