Public workers in France strike over pay as student protests turn violent | Protests News | Al Jazeera

Tens of thousands of civil servants, including teachers, firefighters, and healthcare workers, marched across cities in France demanding higher wages, while students clashed with police in separate protests over school conditions. Union estimates indicate about 300,000 participants nationwide, with police estimating 30,000 in Paris. The protests also targeted planned government budget cuts, including a proposed freeze on public sector salaries in 2027, which would be the fourth consecutive year of freezes and the eighth during President Macron's tenure, leading to significant loss of purchasing power for workers.