France is bracing itself for a widespread strike on Thursday 18 September 2025 (Grève du 18 septembre), which is set to affect trains, schools, pharmacies and may disrupt some hospitals. The country’s main air traffic controllers’ union, SNCTA, has however suspended its strike notice.
Train services, particularly between Paris and other cities, are expected to be severely disrupted. An SNCF official at Antibes train station told Riviera Edition that passengers who have already booked train tickets for Thursday should be notified 48 hours beforehand whether their train has been cancelled or not.
Like many, an Australian holidaying on the French Riviera, who was due to travel to Paris on Thursday, says she is playing it safe and has already changed her ticket to Wednesday. “It’s such a pity, but I don’t want to jeopardise the rest of my trip around Europe.”
Why is France striking?
The protest is against the ‘Bayrou budget‘, which refers to the €43.8 billion saving plans for 2026 of France’s former Prime Minister François Bayrou. (Since the budget was announced, Bayrou resigned after he lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly on 8 September).
Bayrou’s budget plans included deep spending cuts (including cutting public services and reducing medical expenses), freezing welfare spending and removing two public holidays. (The idea to abolish the holidays has been abandoned by the new PM Sébastien Lecornu.)
The nationwide mobilisation follows the Bloquons tout movement last week (Thursday 10 September).
Who is striking?
The strike has been called by eight trade union confederations across different industries (transport, education, medical), who call the government’s draft budget “brutal” and are opposed to some of the proposed measures which heavily impact workers and pensioners.
Transport: According to reports, major disruptions from delays to cancellations are expected by SNCF on TGV and long-distance trips. Local and regional lines will also be affected.
The RATP unions (controlling much of the public transport in Paris) have called for a “massive day of strikes and demonstrations”, some referring to it as a “black day”.
Schools: School closures can be expected, especially in primary schools. Unions are calling on staff to mobilise against the government’s austerity policy, job cuts and lack of pay rises. Primary school teachers will usually notify parents if they plan to strike, but secondary school teachers are not obliged to give notice.
Pharmacies: Pharmacies are being called on to close on Thursday in protest of a government order to reduce 40% discounts that laboratories give pharmacies on generic drugs. This is set to be reduced to 30% from September and 20% in 2027. UPDATE: On page four of the following document, you will find a list of pharmacies in PACA that ARE staying open on Thursday 18 September:
https://www.paca.ars.sante.fr/media/143802/download
Air Traffic Strike in France Postponed
The country’s main air traffic controllers’ union, SNCTA, has suspended its strike notice because the resignation of Bayrou and the formation of a new government, which has not yet named a Minister of Transport, “does not currently allow for the success of demands at the ministerial level”. The SNCTA – which is demanding that salaries catch up with inflation – says it will wait for a new Transport Minister to be installed. They have reverted their strike notice to 7, 8 and 9 October – from the morning of the 7th to the end of night service (the day after the 9th).
