Tens of Thousands of French Public Workers Strike Over Pay Cuts as Student Protests Turn Violent

Tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers, firefighters and healthcare workers, have marched in cities across France to demand higher pay, as students clashed with the police in separate protests over conditions at their schools.

Unions stated that roughly 300,000 people took part in the one-day nationwide strike, while police estimated a turnout of 30,000 in Paris. Workers voiced anger over planned budget cuts and demanded better working conditions.

Protests also erupted at more than 400 schools, leading to blockades, dozens of injuries, and at least 440 detentions by authorities. The unrest arrives just days before the government presents its draft budget and seven months ahead of the presidential election, with unions demanding a 6 percent raise to counter consecutive salary freezes.

Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labor, labeled the protests a "red alert" and urged the government to reconsider its budget within 48 hours or face further strikes. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez and Education Minister Edouard Geffray condemned the violence that broke out during student demonstrations over timetables, class sizes, teacher shortages, and heatwave conditions.