Labor Unions Plan Mobilization Following Disappointing Meeting with Prime Minister Lecornu
Labor unions in France are set to mobilize again after a disappointing meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on key social measures.
- • Unions are unhappy with Lecornu's lack of clear responses in the meeting.
- • Plans are in place for a new intersyndicale mobilization on October 2.
- • The meeting is seen as a missed opportunity for unions to gain solid commitments.
- • Patrick Martin from Medef expresses criticism of the government’s economic policies.
Key details
On September 24, 2025, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with the intersyndicale, a coalition of French labor unions, to discuss pressing social measures. However, the meeting left unions dissatisfied, lacking the solid responses they sought regarding their demands for fiscal justice and retirement reform. Union leaders expressed disappointment, characterizing the encounter as a missed opportunity.
The intersyndicale, which includes major unions such as CFDT, CGT, and FO, is advocating for the abandonment of the proposed increase of the retirement age to 64, among other requests. According to the unions, Lecornu's responses were not clear enough, leading CFDT leader Marylise Léon to announce plans for a follow-up mobilization on October 2. The unions had initially mobilized thousands on September 18, pressing their case against austerity measures and for significant reforms in the pension system.
Despite this disappointment, the engagement with Lecornu marks a pivotal moment in union-government relations, as this was the first time Lecornu convened with the entire intersyndicale instead of meeting unions individually. Unions had threatened new strikes if their demands went unaddressed, signaling a renewed determination to advocate for workers' rights in the face of ongoing economic challenges.
In the backdrop, Patrick Martin, head of the employer organization Medef, criticized the economic theories underpinning current government policies and is set to convene a meeting of business stakeholders to discuss these issues. The stakes are high for both unions and the government as negotiations continue, with further actions anticipated from the intersyndicale as they seek to mobilize support from workers across France.