National strike in the civil service: mobilizations and blockades of high schools in France

A day of all-out strike. Public officials, including firefighters, demonstrated Tuesday, September 29 throughout France at the call of a broad inter-union movement, with the ambition of putting pressure on the government, two days before the presentation of the draft budget for 2027. In an update on the situation at midday, the Ministry of National Education recorded a participation rate of 11.47% among all staff, and 13.71% among teachers. The first primary school teachers' union expected 40% of school teachers to strike, according to Snuipp-FSU. The first processions of officials set off on Tuesday morning.

Bally Bagayoko denies starting a trash fire and denounces “lies”. The mayor of Saint-Denis went to a high school in his town to “support the mobilization”. Asked about the episodes of tension that occurred in front of certain establishments, the elected official put in context and mentioned flash-ball shootings by the police. He felt that in response, "violence can be legitimate, but whenever it can be avoided it is better." He denied lighting a trash fire in front of a high school in his department, denouncing “lies”.

A very political mobilization. The unions hope to bring together as many civil servants as possible, in order to influence the government's decisions for the next budget, the presentation of which is scheduled for Thursday, but also to "send a message to the presidential candidates" at the dawn of the electoral campaign, conducive to "civil servant-bashing", said Laure Revel (CFDT) on Thursday.

Firefighters at the front. After a summer marked by historic fires during which firefighters were severely tested, they decided to gather in the capital to join the rest of the civil servants. Expected to number between 5,000 and 10,000 by the authorities, they will initially march in their own procession, between Place d'Italie and the Bastille, before joining the rest of the demonstrators, who will leave from Place de la République, then head to Place de la Nation.

In another update at midday, the Ministry of National Education recorded “actions” and “disturbances” in 338 establishments “since the start of the day”. In total, “40 blockages” were in progress as well as “44 blocking attempts”, according to the same source. Forty arrests were recorded. Finally, “10 injured”, students and staff members, “were reported”.

In secondary education, a little more than 38% of teachers, CPEs, National Education psychologists, educational assistants and AESH in schools are on strike this Tuesday, the SNES-FSU union said in a press release. “There are more than 40% of strikers in the academies of Lyon and Créteil,” says the union. “In several academies, school life is closed,” he continues.