Public sector strikes and protests hit France as firefighters and students press demands

France is seeing a day of public sector strikes and demonstrations on Tuesday, with workers demanding higher wages, better working conditions and improved public services.

The action puts pay and the quality of services at the centre of public sector workers’ demands, alongside calls to improve conditions on the job.

A separate march by firefighters is taking place in Paris, coinciding with the wider day of industrial action and demonstrations.

Meanwhile, calls are growing to expand protests by secondary school students over teacher shortages and overcrowded classrooms.

The parallel mobilisations bring workplace and education concerns onto the streets, though the firefighters’ march is separate from the public sector protests.