General Confederation of Labor (CGT)
Persecution of trade unionists France French working class rallies in solidarity with trade unionist facing prosecution

Sébastien Menesplier, leader of a union affiliated to the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), was summoned by the police recently. The CGT claims that over 400 of its activists are being prosecuted in various courts for protesting the controversial pension reforms forced through by the Emmanuel Macron government

Trade unions and communists condemn French state’s persecution of energy workers’ leader Sébastien Menesplier

Sébastien Menesplier, the leader of the National Federation of Mines and Energy, was summoned by the police for his role in organizing a strike against the unpopular pension reforms. Unions and the French left have termed it an unprecedented escalation of attacks on labor organizing

26-07 Police repression - France A month after Nael’s killing, has the French state learned any lessons?

The killing of 17-year-old Nael and the mass protests that followed once again revealed structural issues and discrimination in France. Activists say these need to be addressed urgently but it does not look like the government has learnt any lessons

9-06 French Update French left calls for no-confidence vote as Macronists obstruct bill to repeal pension reforms

Emmanuel Macron’s government in France has abused the emergency provisions in the constitution to pass and defend its anti-worker pension reforms. It has also used the security forces to crack down on workers protesting against the rise in retirement age

7-06 French Protests Protests surge in France against abuse of constitutional provisions to defend pension reforms

The French working class is protesting attempts by the government of President Emmanuel Macron to invoke constitutional provisions to block a bill mooted by opposition groups to repeal the pension reforms

French Constitutional Council denies second request for a referendum on controversial pension reforms

Protests continue across France demanding the scrapping of the pension reforms law forcefully enacted by the Emmanuel Macron-led government. The reform increases the retirement age in the county from 62 to 64

In Europe, working-class resilience on full display during May Day

On International Workers’ Day, trade unions and working class parties across Europe reiterated their resolve to defend workers against capitalism, imperialism, and fascism

7-04 French Protests Protests against pension reform rage across France

Talks between the government and trade unionists on Wednesday failed after the government refused to roll back the controversial reforms that will increase the retirement age in France

29-03 French Protests Pension reform or Revolution! Crisis for the French Fifth Republic?

The controversial pension reforms, which will increase the retirement age in the country from 62 to 64, are detested by the French working class and have led to widespread protests

In face of police violence, France rises against Macron’s pension reforms

Massive mobilizations are taking place across France against the pension reforms passed by the Emmanuel Macron government. According to estimates by unions, around 3.5 million people hit the streets on March 23

21-03 French Protests Protests rage across France as government narrowly survives no-confidence vote

The French government had a narrow escape on Monday as the no-confidence motion filed by the opposition fell short of just nine votes in the National Assembly. Trade unions and leftist parties are gearing up for more protests against the unpopular pension reforms

French Protests Not an inch back: French workers fight back against Macron’s neo-liberal pension reform

On February 17, France’s controversial pension reform bill will likely undergo crucial debates and voting in the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament