French Trade Unions Join Student Protests Demanding Social Justice
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, trade unions in France have joined the student protests, demanding a rally on Tuesday, October 13. The National Union of Secondary Education in France, as cited by Mehr News Agency, stated that the unions are backing the students’ demands, which extend beyond resource shortages to encompass greater equality and social justice.
Students believe that the policies implemented by President Emmanuel Macron and his administration have weakened the foundational principles and values of the French Republic’s education system. Despite widespread demonstrations, including a large gathering on October 6th, the government has yet to respond to the demands of high school students.
French trade unions have declared that the high school students’ demands are entirely legitimate and overlap with issues they have raised in numerous protests over recent years. Consequently, they are offering their full support to the students’ cause.
The statement further emphasized that the social movement is currently in a strong position. While continuing to support the protesting high school students, the unions are also urging education sector employees to join the demonstrations to achieve their own objectives.
In pursuit of practical and concrete responses, and in continuation of their September 29th call and in support of the high school students’ protests, six trade union organizations have invited education sector employees to mobilize and go on strike on Tuesday, October 13. These organizations include the Federation of General Workers’ Unions (FSU), the National Union of Autonomous Unions (UNSA Education), the National Federation of Education, Culture, and Vocational Training Unions – Workers’ Force (FNEC FP FO), the Education, Vocational Training, and Public Research Union affiliated with the French Democratic Confederation of Labour (CFDT), the General Union of Labour – Educational Action (CGT Educ’action), and the Democratic Union of Solidarity and Education Unity (SUD Education).
