a mobilization followed in many cities

The unions had called for action, seven days after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron as head of the country. Sunday May 1, the bet was met, the opportunity to send a strong message to the Head of State. “It’s important to show him that discontent is there, that alternatives are possible and so yes, he has to hear. He says he has changed, he says it regularly but we want action , not words”said Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the CGT.

The retirement age, purchasing power, wage increases, the maintenance of public services: these are demands displayed on placards during demonstrations which took place in Nantes (Loire-Atlantique), Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine), Bordeaux (Gironde), Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) or even Lille (Nord) for example. In Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), they were 3,600 to march to express their demands. “We are not at all for Macron’s policy and what he is doing at the level of workers, so we hope to send a message today”says a protester.