Up to 45,000 people in Paris and 400,000 across France have marched against Emmanuel Macron's labour reforms
ADVERTISEMENTProtesters have gathered in Paris to march against Emmanuel Macron’s labour reforms. It’s thought that 45,000 people took part, while 400,000 people are said to have marched across the country.
The nine federations of the civil service, which have 5.4 million employees, called for a day of strike and demonstrations.
The strike resulted in the closure of schools and many public services, while 30% of flights were cancelled preemptively.
The head of the FSU workers union, Bernadette Croizon had a message for the government,
“We are here today to ask the government to change their plans regarding the purchasing power of civil servants. The government has continuously taken negative measures since it came into office, there is not one sector that has been as mistreated as the public service sector since the arrival of Emmanuel Macron, freezing the index point, paid sick leave rules, the plan to get rid of 120,000 jobs.”
It is the first time in a decade that all unions have rallied behind a protest call.
Several arrests were made, while there were reports of protesters being beaten and wrestled to the ground by riot police.