Public sector mobilization: what to expect on december 5th?

Several public sector unions have called for a national day of action and strikes this Thursday, December 5, promising significant disruptions across many public services in France.

A social climate still under strain

After an autumn marked by social tensions, the approach of winter offers no signs of relief. While unions such as CGT, CFDT, UNSA, FSU, Solidaires, CFE-CGC, and FA-FP are uniting for this day of action and strikes, FO has opted for an open-ended strike.

Responses from the Minister of Public Administration, Guillaume Kasbarian, regarding reforms to cut administrative spending, have failed to appease discontent. Although he abandoned plans to abolish the A, B, and C job categories, other contentious measures remain unresolved, such as reducing sick leave compensation from 100% to 90% and implementing three unpaid sick days.

Adding fuel to the fire, Kasbarian recently congratulated Elon Musk on his fictional appointment by Donald Trump as head of a “Government Efficiency” ministry aimed at dismantling bureaucracy. This move, seen as dismissive of French civil servants, further inflamed tensions among the unions.

Sectors on the front lines

The motivations for the strike are numerous: salary freezes, planned job cuts (3,155 positions), unpaid sick days, and a general feeling of disrespect toward public sector employees. “The reasons for anger are many,” declared the FSU-SNUipp in a statement.

• Education sector: Many schools are expected to close their classrooms, supported by unions like FSU, UNSA Education, and SUD Education. In Strasbourg, for instance, all school cafeterias will remain shut on December 5 due to the widespread strike by education staff.
• Healthcare: Hospitals will also join the movement. In Villeurbanne, for example, healthcare workers at the Charpennes Hospital have already announced their participation.
• Administrative services: Municipal offices, departmental and regional councils, as well as tax and public finance centers, will also be affected.

A nationwide mobilization across the public sector

The public sector, which employs over five million workers across its three branches (state, local, and hospital), is mobilizing extensively. Among these employees, 1.9 million work in local authorities, and 1.2 million are hospital staff.

As this day of action looms, marked by widespread disruptions, unions reaffirm their commitment to making their voices heard against reforms they see as unfair and ineffective.