Tens of thousands of workers in France flood streets for anti-government protests

Updated on: November 5, 2026 / 7:59 PM EST / CBS News

Tens of thousands of government workers, teachers, transport employees and other union workers in France walked off the job Thursday to take part in the latest round of massive economic protests that have roiled the European nation, expressing their frustration with low wages and the high cost of living.

What was billed as a national day of action started with nearly 200 peaceful rallies across the country.

The General Confederation of Labour, or GCL, one of France's major unions, said that about 1.6 million people took to the streets, while France's Interior Ministry pegged the number much lower, at about 600,000.

The demonstrations even briefly shut down the Eiffel Tower.

"Our salaries do not allow us to live anymore," Sophie Binet, the head of GCL, told CBS News when asked why the ongoing demonstrations have taken center stage in France.

Binet urged supporters to continue the protests and accused French President Emmanuel Macron of not hearing the people's cries for help.

"Because he thinks he knows everything alone," Binet said of Macron. "Because he works for the rich, for the … multinational and for the finance, not for…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/