03:07Presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Melenchon was seen alongside union activists in Paris on Thursday, during just one of 170 protests across France related to a national day of strike action over the rising cost of living.
Thousands of supporters and members of one of France’s biggest unions CGT marched through the French capital, bearing placards reading "my sign is rotten, my salary too" and "raise salaries, lower shareholders."
Some protesters were dispersed by tear gas.
CGT Secretary General Philippe Martinez laid out the union’s demands, which include improved workers’ rights and a pay increase in line with inflation.
"We cannot wait for the elections to increase salaries,” he said: “There is an urgency to increase salaries and what is interesting is that at the start of the campaign no candidate spoke about wages. Today they are all forced to talk about wages.”
France’s inflation rate increased 2.8 percent over the course of 2021, with workers from various industries now demanding a salary increase and other protections from the government to offset higher costs of living.
France: Pres hopefuls decry price hike as union strikers dodge teargas in Paris
Presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Melenchon was seen alongside union activists in Paris on Thursday, during just one of 170 protests across France related to a national day of strike action over the rising cost of living.
Thousands of supporters and members of one of France’s biggest unions CGT marched through the French capital, bearing placards reading "my sign is rotten, my salary too" and "raise salaries, lower shareholders."
Some protesters were dispersed by tear gas.
CGT Secretary General Philippe Martinez laid out the union’s demands, which include improved workers’ rights and a pay increase in line with inflation.
"We cannot wait for the elections to increase salaries,” he said: “There is an urgency to increase salaries and what is interesting is that at the start of the campaign no candidate spoke about wages. Today they are all forced to talk about wages.”
France’s inflation rate increased 2.8 percent over the course of 2021, with workers from various industries now demanding a salary increase and other protections from the government to offset higher costs of living.
Presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Melenchon was seen alongside union activists in Paris on Thursday, during just one of 170 protests across France related to a national day of strike action over the rising cost of living.
Thousands of supporters and members of one of France’s biggest unions CGT marched through the French capital, bearing placards reading "my sign is rotten, my salary too" and "raise salaries, lower shareholders."
Some protesters were dispersed by tear gas.
CGT Secretary General Philippe Martinez laid out the union’s demands, which include improved workers’ rights and a pay increase in line with inflation.
"We cannot wait for the elections to increase salaries,” he said: “There is an urgency to increase salaries and what is interesting is that at the start of the campaign no candidate spoke about wages. Today they are all forced to talk about wages.”
France’s inflation rate increased 2.8 percent over the course of 2021, with workers from various industries now demanding a salary increase and other protections from the government to offset higher costs of living.