French Teachers Strike Over Safety and Working Conditions at La Canopée College

Teachers at La Canopée College in Matoury, French Guiana, have initiated strike action beginning Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, citing deteriorating working conditions that impact both the safety of staff and students, and the quality of education. The strike notice was filed by the SE-UNSA and SNES-FSU unions.

Concerns Over Security and Supervision

The unions highlight insufficient staffing levels, particularly regarding educational assistants, as a primary concern. According to Emmanuel Octavie, General Secretary of SE-UNSA, a lack of adequate supervision leaves certain areas of the college unmonitored, creating safety risks for students. “When we don’t have the necessary staff to ensure supervision, there are security problems. Some areas of the establishment have no surveillance: students are left to themselves,” Octavie stated.

Hygiene and Technical Issues

Beyond security, the college is reportedly facing issues with hygiene and maintenance. SE-UNSA’s Emmanuel Octavie points to unsanitary conditions, including uncleaned classrooms and a rat infestation. There are reported technical problems with the college’s IT infrastructure and computer maintenance.

Meeting with the Rector

The unions are demanding immediate and concrete measures to address these issues, including the creation of additional educational assistant positions and improvements to hygiene and IT infrastructure. A meeting with the rector is scheduled for Monday, March 23rd, 2026. The rectorate has indicated it will respond following the meeting.

The continuation of the strike, slated to begin on March 24th, will depend on the progress made and commitments secured during the meeting with the rector, according to Octavie.

About the Unions

SE-UNSA (Syndicat des enseignants-UNSA) is a French trade union representing teachers in both primary and secondary public education. Founded in 1992, it currently has 75,000 members and is affiliated with UNSA Éducation. Learn more about SE-UNSA.

SNES-FSU (Syndicat National des Enseignements de Second degré) is the most representative union for secondary education in France, with 55,000 members. Learn more about SNES-FSU.