A week under high tension. After three weekends in a row of demonstrations throughout France, the week is marked by the convergence of social struggles. On the program: blockades of high schools and universities from the start of the school year, Monday, a major day of strike by the world of work at the call of all the unions on Thursday, November 5, then a return of the processions carried by the yellow vests, Friday and Saturday. Franceino takes a look at these upcoming mobilizations.
Monday and Tuesday: resumption of blockades in high schools and universities
An eventful return from vacation. “The high schools will be blocked from Monday,” assured, Sunday, Pierre Sourzat, president of the Les Lycéens organization, on RMC. Forty-one establishments were blocked Monday at 9:30 a.m., or 1% of some 3,700 in France, said the Ministry of Education. The organizations want the movement to gain momentum in the following days. The High School Union (USL) and the Student Union have called for new blockages. “As of this Tuesday, we are going to block our universities and high schools and we will also block Thursday and then go to demonstration on November 5 at the call of the workers,” said the spokesperson for the Student Union, Sabrine Kharbach, on Saturday.
Unef (National Union of Students of France) also called "to organize in all universities this Monday, November 2", estimating that "Tuesday, November 3 must be a black day on universities", with blockages of faculties and high schools across the country. For its part, Fage (Federation of general student associations) “joins all forms of mobilization in the broad sense”. The Interfac Ile-de-France collective, which brings together students from university general assemblies, has also planned a new Parisian demonstration for Tuesday, between the Pantheon and the Medef headquarters.
The government announced a week earlier a series of measures to try to put an end to the movement, which began in mid-September. He notably promised the gradual replacement of Parcoursup by 2028, the cancellation of the planned job cuts in National Education, the creation of 500 additional positions, a capping of 28 students per second grade class and 15,000 additional places in higher education, far from the 250,000 demanded by the organizations.
On the ground, some students recognize that the weeks of blocking are starting to take their toll. School heads are also dreading the resumption: "It is time that we can resume what is our profession: pedagogy, support for students, guidance assistance", believes Nicolas Bonnet, principal of the Henri-Brulle vocational high school in Libourne (Gironde) and national secretary of the National Union of National Education Management Personnel (SNPDEN-Unsa), on franceinfo.
Some fear clashes between students who wish to continue the blockades and those who intend to resume classes and seek to enter establishments. The police were to increase their numbers on Monday to secure schools and support the educational community after the violence observed during previous mobilizations, according to a message from the national directorate of public security consulted by AFP. For example, the police were present Monday morning in front of the Le Corbusier high school in Aubervilliers (Seine-Saint-Denis), as noted by a franceinfo journalist.
Thursday: strike of the world of work at the call of all the unions
After weeks of youth mobilization and demonstrations against the high cost of living, the unions are calling on employees to take to the streets on Thursday and strike, to demand answers from the government and employers on purchasing power. For the first time since the start of the school year, the mobilization concerns the private as well as the public, with demands for an increase in wages, the protection of public services, the defense of employment and a better distribution of wealth for employees, young people and retirees alike. All the unions joined the call initially launched at the beginning of October by an inter-union (CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU).
“Already a cumulative three million people have participated in one or other of the demonstrations for a month and a half. The idea is to expand it within the company” with strikes and walkouts, explains Thomas Vacheron, confederal secretary of the CGT. Faced with the roundly denounced draft budget, the unions did not obtain measures from Matignon, where they were received ten days ago, even if a possible increase in the minimum wage was mentioned. “This demonstration on the 5th is important to maintain this pressure and for these measures (...) on which there was finally an opening to really materialize,” believes Cyril Chabanier, president of the CFTC.
Youth organizations also want to take part. “Obviously the high school students and students will join the workers, because they supported us, we support them too,” Ryad Rani of the High School Union (USL) explained on Friday on BFMTV. The coordination of yellow vests also intends to join the mobilization. “We must ensure that November 5 is not just an inter-union November 5, but November 5 of the people,” Benjamin Ball, member of this movement, said on Thursday, October 29, on RMC.
Friday and Saturday: “six-seven” and “act 4” worn by the yellow vests
What's next after Thursday's strike day? For the moment, the unions, apart from Solidaires, are not talking about renewing the movement. Yellow vests, on the other hand, want to continue the mobilization. “The goal is to, little by little, create the possibility of real convergence,” assured Benjamin Ball. “And we, after the 5th, we call for a 6-7” (“six-seven”, in reference to an expression that has become viral on social networks, particularly among the youngest).
On their site, the yellow vests call for "renewal" of strikes and blockades on November 6, then for an "act 4" on Saturday with demonstrations throughout France. Benjamin Ball recalled that his movement is calling for "a General Assembly, that is to say a meeting with all the mobilized sectors" so that the government can "respond to the students, the farmers, the yellow vests, the teachers, the civil service, the workers, the climate movements", who are demanding "an emergency plan".
