French unions call nationwide strike for 5 November after 410,000 march

French unions and protest groups called a nationwide strike for 5 November and fresh rallies for 31 October, seeking to sustain pressure on the government over wages, living costs and public services.

Around 410,000 people marched across France on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said. Authorities deployed 70,000 police and other security personnel, an operation that prevented a repeat of the looting seen on 17 October.

Solidaires co-leader Murielle Guilbert said grievances among students, workers, firefighters and other groups were converging. "We see an aggregation of anger," she told BFM TV.

SUD Education said it would join the 31 October demonstration. The CGT, one of France's largest trade unions, said it would decide during the week whether to participate. Labour leaders argued the discontent now extends well beyond the students who began the movement last month.

The Yellow Vests movement called for mass rallies next Saturday, including sit-ins outside town halls and the National Assembly.

The government has opened talks with unions and student representatives, but protest leaders say the measures proposed fall short. Guilbert said her federation had received no response from the government.

Macron faces limited room to manoeuvre: strained public finances restrict new spending, his centrist camp lacks a parliamentary majority for major legislation, and his presidency is nearing its end.