French public sector strike: schools, transport, flights disrupted on Tuesday

Major public sector unions have called for a nationwide strike on Tuesday, September 29, with 40% of primary school teachers expected to participate and 155 protests planned across France. The strike targets the government's proposed 2027 budget, which includes a freeze on the public sector pay index. Secondary school students are also organizing blockades to protest overcrowded classes and staff shortages, while transport networks like RER D will see significant disruptions. Air travel will be affected, with flight reductions of 5% at Paris-Charles-de-Gaulle and 25% at Marseille-Provence. Police unions and firefighters, already striking since early September, will join the demonstrations, marking the first time since 2018 that all France Travail unions have called for a strike.