Strike on 5 November: unions call out both private- and public-sector workers. What rights a salarié has, and what happens at school

What has been announced

On 5 October, CFDT, CGT, FO, Unsa and FSU issued a joint statement. They call on public- and private-sector workers, young people and retirees to strike and demonstrate on Thursday 5 November. Their demands centre on wages and pensions, public services, jobs and industry. The unions present the date as the next step after the public-service strike of 29 September.

On 21 October, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu received the unions at Matignon. After the meeting, CGT leader Sophie Binet repeated the call for the widest possible mobilisation on 5 November. She said the government had announced no measures. The CGT also suggested holding general meetings in workplaces to discuss continuing the strike after the 5th.

On the railways, the four representative SNCF unions (CGT-Cheminots, UNSA-Ferroviaire, SUD-Rail, CFDT-Cheminots) have called a strike for the same day. As of 21 October, RATP had no separate strike notice for 5 November. We do not yet have a confirmed service forecast for trains or the metro: operators publish it closer to the date.

If you are a private-sector salarié

The service-public page "Droit de grève d'un salarié du secteur privé" sets out the right to strike. The main points:

• Any employee can strike. The page sets no nationality condition.
• No notice (préavis) is required in the private sector, and the employee does not have to tell the employer in advance that they will strike.
• A strike normally involves at least two people. But an employee may strike alone when joining a nationwide call, and 5 November is exactly that kind of call.
• Work must stop completely. The employer must know the work-related demands behind the strike. An action that falls outside this definition may be unlawful, and then the protection does not apply.
• Pay is withheld in proportion to the time not worked. Withholding more than that is prohibited.
• An employee cannot be disciplined or dismissed for striking, or discriminated against (for example, over a pay rise). The exception is faute lourde, meaning serious misconduct.

Public transport and air passenger transport have their own rules, and the public sector has its own procedure. If you work there, check the conditions with your employer or union.

If your child is in maternelle or élémentaire

The service-public page on looking after children when teachers strike provides the following:

• In a state school, the childcare is free. If fewer than 25% of the school's teachers strike, the rectorat organises it with the teachers who are not striking. If 25% or more strike, the commune organises it. That can be at the school itself or in another municipal building, such as a gym.
• The head teacher must warn parents about how the strike will affect lessons. The notice goes up at the school entrance and may also be sent by email or text message.
• In a private school under contract, the school's management organises the childcare.

The page covers primary schools only. It says nothing about collège or lycée, so for secondary school, ask the school directly.

What to do ahead of time

1. The evening before and on the morning of 5 November, check your trains and lines on SNCF Connect, RATP or Île-de-France Mobilities. Until a forecast is out, avoid booking trips on the 5th that cannot be moved.
2. Watch for notices from the school and the town hall about childcare.
3. If you strike, remember that pay for the day will be withheld in proportion.
4. If you are not striking but may struggle to get to work, agree on something with your employer in advance, such as remote work.

Background

An inter-union day of action, where the confederations jointly call out both the private and public sectors, is a familiar format in France. The unions have not yet said how this one will end or whether there will be further dates: so far the CGT has only suggested discussing an extension at workplace meetings.