Strikes Close Paris Hubs; Workers Struggle Through Riots And Blockades

PARIS, France— France was brought to a standstill yesterday as a wave of nationwide protests and strikes shut down major transport hubs and spilled into the streets. Demonstrators rallied against the government’s austerity measures, blocking roads, burning barricades, and disrupting train services across the country.

In Paris, central stations including Châtelet-Les Halles were forced to close, while RER and SNCF lines ran at a fraction of normal capacity, leaving commuters stranded and students unable to reach schools. Police deployed in force, making hundreds of arrests as riots erupted in the capital and other cities. Businesses, shops, and public services also felt the shock, underscoring the depth of frustration fueling the “Block Everything” movement.

The strike rippled far beyond transport, exposing the fragility of daily life in the face of mounting political and social unrest. For ordinary workers, the struggle was even more personal.

“Sobra hirap yesterday, pabalik balik ako sa iba’t ibang metro para maka uwi,” said Melvin Navarro, a household employee. “Nag line 10 ako, tapos bus 160, lipat pa ng bus 244 kasi sarado Châtelet at Les Halles. Dalawang oras at kalahati bago ako nakauwi.”

(“It was so hard yesterday, I kept going back and forth between metro lines just to get home. I took Line 10, then bus 160, then switched to bus 244 because Châtelet and Les Halles were closed. It took me two and a half hours before I finally got home.”)

Others, like Ann Gavilan Parcia who bikes to work, faced a different kind of chaos. “Okay naman since nag-bike ako, pero iba kahapon—lahat ng streets sa center like Rivoli puno at blocked, daming pulis humaharang. Tagal bago ako nakalabas, pushing my bike kasi puno ng protesters pati Pont Neuf. Pawis ako at late na sa pupuntahan ko. Sa ibang lugar mas grabe, sinunog nila mga restaurant.”

(“It was manageable since I biked, but yesterday was different—streets in the center like Rivoli were packed and blocked, with police everywhere. It took me a long time to get out, pushing my bike through protesters at Pont Neuf. I was sweaty and late. In other areas it was worse, with restaurants being set on fire.”)

With political tensions unresolved, France’s transport network is expected to remain fragile in the days ahead, as unions weigh their next move. As Marylise Léon, leader of the CFDT union, put it: “Our organisations are calling for a day of action on September 18, including through strikes and protest rallies.”

Yesterday’s strike, then, may only mark the beginning of a longer season of confrontation between the government and the streets.

Photo and videos courtesy: Ann Gavilan Parcia

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