Demonstrations and Strikes in Dijon Against the 2026 Draft Budget

The CGT, FSU and Solidaires are calling for demonstrations and strikes this Tuesday, December 2, too oppose the 2026 draft budget. In Dijon, around 300 demonstrators met at Place de la Libération.

“Ça suffit” – two words to summarise the demands of the protesters in dijon this Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

At the call of the CGT, FSU and Solidaires, approximately 300 people are marching through the streets of central Dijon to make their discontent heard. What motivates these people to take to the streets: the 2026 budget project, considered “socially unjust.”

“More demonstrations are to be expected”

another union represented in the procession, the FSU, a national education union. The co-secretary in Côte d’Or draws a link between the lack of budget and the upcoming school year: “In January 2026, a major reform is planned, but without the necessary funding, it will be unachievable to implement it properly. We are already facing a shortage of teachers, and this will only worsen.”

What motivates Fatima to come and demonstrate is her retirement pension of just 1,000 euros even though she has just retired. This situation is increasingly common, and protesters fear for the future of the pension system.

“We worked our whole lives to have a decent retirement,” she explains, “and now we are told that we will not be able to live comfortably. It’s unacceptable.”

The demonstrators are determined to continue the fight. They warn that more demonstrations are to be expected if the government does not listen to their demands.

French Teachers Walk Out Nationwide in Protest

Millions of French teachers went on strike today, December 2nd, disrupting classes across the country. They’re protesting low salaries and proposed pension reforms they say will force them to work longer before retiring. It’s a major challenge for President Macron’s government.

the strikes aren’t just about money. Teachers are also worried about proposed changes to the pension system. The government wants people to work longer before they can retire with a full pension, and teachers fear this will disproportionately affect them because their jobs can be physically demanding. They don’t believe it’s fair.

Unions organized demonstrations in cities across France, with protesters carrying flags and banners. In Paris, thousands marched from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation. They’re hoping to put enough pressure on the government to reconsider its plans. It’s not just teachers involved; other public sector workers are also joining the protests.

the government says the pension reforms are necessary to keep the system financially stable as the population ages.They argue that everyone needs to contribute a little more to ensure pensions are available for future generations.But unions aren’t convinced,and they say the government isn’t listening to their concerns.

School closures varied depending on the region, with some schools fully shut down and others operating with reduced staff. Parents had to make last-minute childcare arrangements, and the disruption is causing headaches for many families. It’s unclear how long the strikes will last, but unions have vowed to continue protesting until their demands are met.

This isn’t the first time French teachers have taken to the streets. There have been several protests in recent years over similar issues, but this one feels notably significant due to the widespread participation and the strong feeling of discontent among educators. Many feel they’re undervalued and overworked.

You can find more details about the strikes and the proposed pension reforms from these sources:

• RFI – France: Teachers strike over pensions and reforms
• The Guardian – France teachers strike over pension reforms