CGT Demands Fuel Price Cap and Worker Protections Amid Rising Energy Costs in France

Sophie Binet, secretary general of the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), has called for a maximum fuel price of €1.70 per liter to curb soaring energy costs and the record profits reported by oil companies like TotalEnergies. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ouest-France ahead of discussions at the Ministry of Economy on April 7, 2026, Binet emphasized the urgent need to freeze energy prices to protect French consumers and workers against inflation pressures.

Binet also proposed indexing salaries to energy prices to help workers cope with rising living costs, along with advocating for a multi-year industrial programming law to address long-term energy and economic challenges. These demands come as part of the CGT’s broader strategy to support workers facing economic strain amid inflationary pressures.

Additionally, the CGT expressed strong opposition to a controversial law passed by the Senate, which could allow certain workers to be compelled to work on May 1st, traditionally a day of labor commemoration and protest. The union fears this legislation, scheduled for National Assembly debate on April 10, 2026, would undermine small artisans and potentially normalize mandatory work on May Day without voluntary consent or extra pay.

Public support for CGT’s energy price demands is evident as a petition initiated by a unionized home aid has surpassed 50,000 signatures, signaling widespread concern over unchecked fuel price increases.

This labor unrest and CGT’s assertive demands emerge in the context of a challenging fiscal environment for France. According to financial analysts like Isabelle Bouillot, the government faces an “impossible” budget equation for 2027, with limited room to maneuver given GDP growth of about 2% and relatively fixed tax rates.

While France’s public sector anticipates an additional €26 billion in resources next year, pressures from energy inflation and social demands like those from the CGT complicate the government’s efforts to balance economic recovery with social equity. The upcoming meetings at Bercy and parliamentary debates will be critical in determining how France addresses these intertwined economic and labor challenges.