Workers across France stage protests over pay and rising costs

Fishermen began blocking an oil depot at 3am in Fos-sur-Mer, in the Bouches-du-Rhône region, affecting about 50 tanker lorries, local authorities said.

The action follows demonstrations in Sète and Port-Vendres on Monday. Fishermen say rising fuel and operating costs, along with growing regulatory requirements, are worsening their working conditions.

They are calling for talks with Fishing Minister Catherine Chabaud.

Several thousand police officers are expected to march down the Champs-Élysées to the National Assembly after the Alliance Police Nationale union called for protests over pay and working conditions. The union hopes politicians will show their support.

Its demands include a bonus for riot police and some border officers, as well as changes to other bonuses and employment statuses for forensic officers.

It also wants better pay and recognition for staff working in prefectures.

Energy workers

Electricity and gas workers are planning a strike to oppose changes to their preferential energy rate, which forms part of their compensation.

The government is considering changing the long-standing staff rate after the Court of Auditors said the gap between the rate and the real cost of energy was too wide.

Some 140,000 workers and 160,000 retirees pay the rate. The auditor says it is less than two percent of average electricity or gas rates paid by consumers, while unions say it is around 10 percent of what households pay on average.

Unions expect more than 80 percent of workers to take part in the strike. They say the rate is crucial for workers who often start on salaries below the minimum wage.

From memes to political movement, India's 'Cockroach' party leads youth revolt

Cuts to education

University staff and researchers are mobilising over what unions describe as chronic underfunding of higher education and public research.

They are also protesting against worsening study and working conditions, as well as measures they say could make higher education less accessible.

A broad coalition of unions estimates that higher education is short of at least €8 billion, with another €8 billion missing from public research.

Tuesday's action in Paris and other cities is seen as a first step ahead of a larger national mobilisation on 29 September. The protests come amid debate over whether universities should raise fees and become more selective.

Climate funding

Firefighter, nurse and student unions, along with environmental and animal protection groups and a feminist collective, have called for a protest outside the Economy Ministry on Tuesday evening to demand “resources to tackle climate change”.

Ahead of the 2027 budget, they are calling for several emergency measures to be included in the finance bill.

These include a plan to tackle extreme heat, a tax on the “biggest polluters” and more funding for wildfire prevention.

(with newswires)