France begins nationwide strike amid soaring inflation

French trade unions started a strike on Tuesday (18 October) to demand higher wages amid decades-high inflation. President Emmanuel Macron is facing one of his most difficult challenges since May's reelection.

This strike will affect the public sector, schools, and transportation. It is an extension to weeks-long industrial action that disrupted France’s major refineries and destabilized petrol station supply.

Trade union leaders hope workers will feel energized by the government’s decision to make some of them return to work at petrol stations to get the fuel flowing again. Some say this puts in jeopardy their right to strike.

CGT union has called for continued walksouts during a fourth week at TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA), despite the fact that the oil company reached a deal which included a 7% raise and a bonus Friday with other unions. CGT wants a 10% increase in pay, citing inflation and firm's large profits.

Eurostar stated that it would cancel some trains between London-Paris due to the strike.

Tensions are rising in the second-largest economy of the euro zone. Strikes have already spread to other areas of the energy sector, including the nuclear giant EDF (EDF.PA), where vital maintenance work for Europe's power supply will not be completed on time.

On Monday, a representative of the FNMECGT union stated that strikes had impacted work at 10 French nuclear power stations. There were further maintenance delays at 13 reactors. French power production was also reduced by 2.2 gigawatts.

Major disruptions in public transport are to be expected, including in Eurostar, suburban and train trains as well as in the Paris subway.

The unions representing civil service workers have called for Tuesday's strike. This could lead to disruptions at schools and other public facilities.

The strike is taking place in a political environment that is tense. On Sunday, Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne stated that the French government will pass the 2023 budget by using special constitutional powers which would allow it bypass a vote in Parliament.

All over the country, demonstrations are being held. One in Paris will begin at 1200 GMT.

On Sunday (16 October), thousands of protested against the rising prices. Jean-Luc Melenchon (leader of the hard-left party La France Insoumise, France Unbowed) marched with Annie Ernaux, this year's Nobel Prize for Literature winner, alongside other protestors. Melenchon declared a general strike for Tuesday.

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