France is bracing for one of its largest waves of industrial action in recent years as unions across the country prepare for a massive nationwide strike on Thursday, September 18, 2025. The strike, which targets the government’s proposed 2026 budget plan, is expected to disrupt nearly every aspect of daily life, from public transport and schools to tourist attractions and pharmacies. The scale of the protest, with up to 800,000 demonstrators anticipated, marks a significant escalation in the ongoing standoff between labor unions and President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, and comes amid a political crisis that has already toppled two prime ministers in less than a year.
According to France 24, nine of the country’s major unions have united for the first time since their joint campaign against pension reform in June 2023. Over 220 rallies are scheduled across France, with union leaders hoping to surpass the turnout of the recent “Block Everything” movement, which drew nearly 200,000 participants but fell short of its ambitions to paralyze the country. “We want a million people with us,” CFTC union leader Cyril Chabanier told RTL television, reflecting the determination among labor leaders to send a clear message to the government.
The protests have been called in response to what unions describe as “unprecedented brutality” in the government’s budget proposals. In a joint statement released in late August, union leaders accused the government of once again making “workers, the unemployed, retirees and the sick” pay for fiscal tightening. The planned budget includes sweeping cuts to public services, another overhaul of unemployment insurance, a freeze on benefits and public sector pay, lower pensions, doubled medical fees, and even threats to France’s cherished fifth week of paid leave. “The budget as it stands is not compatible with social, fiscal and environmental justice,” CFDT leader Marylise Léon told France Inter.
The new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, who took office just last week after parliament ousted François Bayrou over a controversial €44 billion budget squeeze, finds himself in the eye of the storm. Lecornu has promised “substantive changes” but has so far refused to rule out any of the unpopular measures. After meeting with Lecornu earlier this week, CGT union chief Sophie Binet declared, “He didn’t commit to anything. None of the disastrous policies from [former Prime Minister] François Bayrou’s tenure have been scrapped.” Binet added, “We will continue to mobilise as long as there is no adequate response. The budget will be decided in the streets.”
The government, for its part, is taking no chances. Authorities plan to deploy more than 80,000 security forces and 24 armored vehicles across the country, an extraordinary show of force not seen since the Yellow Jackets protests of 2018-2019. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told BFM TV that riot units, drones, and armored vehicles would be on hand to counter potential sabotage and attempts to block sites. He also warned of possible violent troublemakers seeking clashes with police.
The impact on daily life is expected to be severe. Paris’s public transport operator, RATP, has announced that strike participation will reach 90% among metro drivers and 80% among RER drivers. Only the fully automated metro lines (1, 4, and 14) will run normally, while others will operate only during peak hours or may be completely closed. Some bus and tram lines, including T5, T7, and T8, will be disrupted, and heavy disruption is expected on RER lines D and E. RATP is advising passengers to work from home or postpone travel where possible, and has even partnered with Lime to offer 3,000 free bike rentals to ease the pressure on the city’s transport network.
Regional train services will also be hit hard. The SNCF, France’s national rail operator, expects significant disruption on its Intercités network, with only one train in two running, and three out of five regional TER trains operating. High-speed TGV services will fare better, with nine out of ten trains expected to run. Air France faces strike notices from at least three unions, although air-traffic controllers have postponed their own walkout for now.
The strike’s effects will ripple far beyond transport. Museums and landmarks, including the Arc de Triomphe, which closed a day ahead of the strike, the Louvre, and the Palace of Versailles, have warned of limited access or possible closures. Tourists are being advised to check official websites for updates and to plan ahead.
Education will not be spared. The largest primary school union expects one-third of nursery and primary teachers to strike, citing a lack of resources and overcrowded classrooms. A recent back-to-school survey revealed that almost 3,000 classes across more than 6,000 schools had no assigned teacher this year, while over 80% of schools reported at least one class with more than 22 pupils. Disruption is also anticipated in school canteens and after-school services in several cities.
Healthcare access could also be affected, with pharmacists joining the strike in protest against government cuts to the rebate for generic drugs—a key source of income for pharmacies. According to a survey by the USPO pharmacists’ union, up to 98% of pharmacies could close for the day, jeopardizing access to essential medicines such as antibiotics, antidiabetic drugs, and anti-epileptics. The government’s rebate cap has already fallen from 40% to 30% and is set to drop to 20% by 2027, a move unions warn could force thousands of closures and job losses.
The scale of the strike reflects not only anger over the budget but also a broader sense of frustration with the government’s approach to fiscal reform. Unions are demanding more spending on public services, higher taxes on the wealthy, and the scrapping of unpopular pension changes. The Confederation Paysanne, a farmers’ union, has also called for mobilization, adding to the sense of a countrywide pushback against austerity.
The political stakes are high. President Macron and Prime Minister Lecornu, who must rely on support from other parties to pass the budget, face a tough battle in parliament and on the streets. The outcome of Thursday’s demonstrations could well determine the direction of France’s fiscal policy—and the political fortunes of its leaders—in the months ahead.
As France prepares for a day of disruption, uncertainty hangs in the air. Will the government budge in the face of mass protest, or will the standoff harden further? For now, all eyes are on the streets, the stations, and the squares of France, where the future of the country’s budget—and perhaps its political landscape—will be fiercely contested.