French unions are preparing for a potentially indefinite series of strikes starting in early November, intensifying pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government amid widespread social unrest. On October 22, Sophie Binet, general secretary of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), called for the nationwide one-day strike scheduled for November 5 to escalate into rolling strikes until the government accedes to union demands.

The current movement draws parallels with the mass worker and student protests of May 1968, signaling deepening dissatisfaction across multiple sectors. The so-called "yellow vest" movement, which originally emerged in 2018 in opposition to rising fuel taxes, has also reemerged with new demonstrations and violent clashes in recent days. Benjamin Ball, a Franco-British activist involved in coordinating protests, defended last weekend’s looting and rioting as acts of “self-defence” against a government he accuses of favoring the wealthy over ordinary citizens.

The unions’ demands focus on increased wages and higher public spending, despite France already having among the highest government expenditures globally. Following discussions with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Binet criticized the government’s response as insufficient and urged the generalization of strikes to maintain pressure.

Addressing the unrest during a visit to Qatar, President Macron appealed for calm and rejected claims linking the disturbances to immigration. Though he did not directly name them, Macron criticized foreign leaders—widely interpreted as references to U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu—who attributed the crisis to immigration and shared misinformation allegedly fabricated through artificial intelligence.

While Macron depicted the situation as under control, analysts and some activists warn that the coalition of student protesters, trade unions, and yellow vest demonstrators signals a potential escalation. The recent unrest originated with sixth-form students protesting poor school conditions and teacher shortages but has since expanded to include workers, nurses, firefighters, climate activists, and residents from working-class neighborhoods. Their grievances encompass a wide range of issues: high living costs, underfunded public services, and demands for better working conditions.

Ball advocated for unity among protestors and business owners affected by the unrest, urging them to collaborate in pressing the government for change. He dismissed calls to wait for the presidential election scheduled in six months, emphasizing urgency and warning that failure to address demands now would lead to further protests under the next administration. Demonstrators also aim to compel electoral candidates to clarify their positions on social and economic reforms.

The fragmented nature of the protests complicates resolution. Beyond the unionized workforce and yellow vest activists, masked groups described by authorities as “ultra-left agitators” have led violent confrontations with police. These elements, connected to anarchist and anti-fascist movements without centralized leadership, pose challenges both for law enforcement and for trade unions seeking to maintain the movement’s focus.

For Ball, the resolution is straightforward: the government must meet the protesters’ demands to end the violence. The solidarity among diverse groups indicates a sustained challenge to Macron’s minority government, which faces an uncertain path in implementing reforms as the country approaches a crucial electoral cycle.