Schools, transport, health and energy: the strike is increasing in France

Demonstrators from different sectors were paralyzed, again, Tuesday (18) in France. They are demanding an increase in salaries in the face of high inflation and the right to strike after several requests made by the government of the Republic Emmanuel Macron To return to activities in refineries. In addition to the oil industry, the strike also announced the electricity system, rail transport, public and health services.

Support from other areas enhances the mobilization of the oil sector, through which 60% of refining capacity affected and a third of France ran out of fuel. The shutdowns are affecting European markets at a time of global energy shortage.

High school and university students are also participating in the protests. High schools were closed Tuesday morning across the country.

The unionists announced that the strike would continue, and Bertrand Hammach, general secretary of the CGT-RATP, one of the main unions in this mobilization, told AFP: “It is the beginning of a cycle.”

“I think there is a problem with the salary,” the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, replied to the microphone of French radio station RTL, in response to Tuesday’s strike movement among professionals. “The state has done its job, and the number of public servants has increased significantly. The Minister of the Interior added that it is now necessary that part of the employers be able to increase salaries when possible. “The worker, the worker who works, must be paid a fair wage,” he reiterated.