Strike called after failed talks

Sophie Binet, general secretary of the CGT union, called for a general strike on November 5 after talks at Matignon, the government headquarters, failed to address workers' and students' demands.

Students demand improved schools

High school students are pushing for better facilities, stronger security, and improved study conditions. This would require massive public investments in buildings, equipment, and staff, according to the Ministry of National Education.

Cost of school upgrades estimated

The ministry estimates that bringing all French high schools up to standard would cost between 15 and 20 billion euros over five years. This does not include annual operating costs, such as heating and maintenance, which are estimated at 2 billion euros per year.

Workers seek higher purchasing power

Unions are also demanding an increase in workers' purchasing power. The CFTC noted that the government is open to discussing the minimum wage, but has not provided specific numbers or commitments.

Three ways to boost purchasing power

Increasing purchasing power could be achieved by raising wages, reducing social contributions, or lowering taxes. However, each option has a budgetary cost, and a 10% increase in the minimum wage alone would add 3.5 billion euros in salary costs.

France's financial constraints

France has a public deficit of 5.5% of GDP in 2026, or about 150 billion euros. Public debt exceeds 112% of GDP, and the country is under European Union supervision regarding budget limits.

Funding school and wage demands

Meeting both the 20 billion euros needed for school upgrades and the 6 billion euros required to boost purchasing power would demand 26 billion euros in new resources. This is difficult to achieve without increasing taxes, the deficit, or cutting other spending.

Taxes and contributions affect workers

Social contributions in France take 22% of gross salary for employees and 42% for employers. Increasing these contributions to fund school investments would lower workers' net income, while reducing them to boost wages would weaken the Social Security system.

Government lacks immediate solutions

The government announced no concrete measures after the October 21 meeting. Sophie Binet criticized the lack of action, noting that the demands of students and workers cannot be met without additional resources, which are not available in the short term.

Economic growth needed for funding

To fund the demands without increasing the deficit, France would need to raise taxes or achieve a 3% annual GDP growth. However, growth is projected to remain low, at 1.2% in 2026, making this challenge even more difficult.

Financial reality limits options

The numbers show that satisfying both students and workers would require 1% of GDP, which France does not currently have. Previous unrest has also increased insurance costs, further straining household budgets.