October 2 Strike 2025: Lower Turnout Despite Symbolic Actions

A nationwide decline in participation

By 2 p.m. in Paris, the inter-union march began from Place d’Italie in a surprisingly quiet atmosphere. According to the Interior Ministry, 195,000 protesters took to the streets across France, compared to “nearly 600,000” claimed by the CGT.

In Paris, the turnout dropped to 24,000 demonstrators, down from 55,000 on September 18. Similar declines were reported in Marseille (15,000 → 4,000), Bordeaux (8,800 → 3,000) and Montpellier (10,000 → 4,000).

Education and public sector strikes in decline

The Ministry of Education reported a 6.95% strike rate in primary schools and 6.13% in secondary schools, compared to over 17% in September. Seven high schools were fully blocked in the Paris region, while 17 middle schools were closed in Overseas France.
In the state civil service, only 4.22% of workers went on strike, compared with nearly 11% on September 18.

Calmer atmosphere in Paris

While past demonstrations, such as May Day 2019, were marked by tension and heavy police presence, October 2 felt relatively calm. Police numbers were lower, with 5,000 officers deployed in Paris compared to 7,400 six years earlier. The only hotspot was the heavily guarded La Rotonde brasserie, a frequent protest target.

Cultural workers occupy the Palais de Tokyo

Beyond the marches, the cultural sector staged a symbolic action by occupying the Palais de Tokyo in Paris’s 16th arrondissement. This followed previous actions at the Pompidou Center, the Île-de-France Regional Cultural Affairs Directorate, and the Villette Pavilion.
“The atmosphere is positive, with solidarity meals being shared and more people arriving,” said Clémence Mauger, spokesperson for the National Union of Visual Artists-CGT. The museum’s management demanded evacuation within two hours, but workers voted to stay until police intervened.

What’s next for the unions?

This October 2 strike shows a clear decline in inter-union mobilization. With the government sticking to austerity policies and refusing direct talks, unions may increasingly rely on symbolic actions as mass protests lose momentum.

©2025 – IMPACT EUROPEAN

About The Author

Gabriel MIHAI

See author's posts