Unions take to the streets in France to demand wage increases from the Government against inflation

MADRID, 18 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of various cities in France in a day of mobilizations with which the unions want to demand salary improvements that compensate for the rise in inflation in recent months, in a new social pulse to the Government of Emmanuel Macron.

Four unions, including the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), have called professionals from all sectors, both public and private, to protest to ask the French Executive to take short and medium-term measures against inflation that stood at in September at 5.6 percent year-on-year.

The protests have taken place in the main cities, but there have been no major effects in the sectors considered key. In the capital, the march has attracted thousands of people and has resulted in some moments of tension, with charges from the Police in front of groups that were throwing projectiles, according to ‘Le Figaro’.

The leader of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, who has led the march in Paris, has urged the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and his government to “take into account the social emergency” and to take action as soon as possible.

For his part, the Minister of Public Administration, Stanislas Guerini, confirmed this Tuesday the start of negotiations on the salary of civil servants at the beginning of 2023.

Among those who have given their support to these marches is the main leader of the French left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, while the far-right Marine Le Pen has used the mobilizations to question the economic management of the Executive.

The mobilization also comes preceded by the strikes at the refineries, which has caused problems in the ‘stock’ of the gas stations. The Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, has confirmed in the National Assembly that “less than 25 percent” of gas stations are already without supply, after the authorities on Monday placed the figure at 28.1 percent, reports Franceinfo.

“It is not acceptable that a minority continues to block the country. It is time to return to work,” claimed Borne, who has celebrated improvements that he considers “significant” in service stations.