14:35 BST — 18 September | Update
Crowds are concentrating in city centres this afternoon, with large processions reported in Paris (now at Place de la République), Bordeaux and Marseille.
In Bouches-du-Rhône, authorities report arrests and several prevented actions; pharmacists and healthcare workers are marching in Marseille. Rennes has seen clashes with police; Lyon reported earlier scuffles with injuries to a journalist and an officer.
Nationally, midday figures pointed to ~11% participation in the state civil service and dozens of arrests across the country, while unions speak of a strong turnout.
For hauliers, the main impacts are dense crowds, cordons and closures around central routes to/from demonstration areas, which may slow urban deliveries even where trunk roads remain passable.
🔴 PARIS | TÊTE DE LA MANIFESTATION : Raffineurs, cheminots, machinistes RATP, travailleurs de la santé et étudiants forment une chaîne pour protéger le cortège de tête de la manifestation du #18septembre : « Macron démission, grève générale pour tout bloquer ! » pic.twitter.com/SbNWurxYgO
— Révolution Permanente (@RevPermanente) September 18, 2025
10:49 BST – 18 September| Reporting by Sabina Koll
Germany’s services union Verdi has declared its solidarity with French unions in their fight against the government’s budget plans. Verdi chairman Frank Werneke criticised the proposed cuts, including the abolition of public holidays, reductions in public services and pensions, and higher health contributions, as measures that unfairly burden workers, the unemployed and pensioners.
He called instead for large companies and high earners to contribute more, saying:
“The struggle of the French trade unions is also our struggle: for social justice, for the protection and expansion of the welfare state, for decent work and dignity in old age.”
9:28 BST — 18 September | Update
France’s nationwide strike is under way, but as of late morning the most visible impacts are around schools and urban public transport. Road actions exist, notably in Toulon and around Lyon, yet large-scale motorway shutdowns remain spotty. Police and gendarmes are using drones widely to monitor gatherings and clear attempted blockades.
What’s happening on the roads (so far)
- Toulon (Var) — A57 / A50 go-slow: Two protest convoys entered the motorways at the city’s east and west approaches from 06:45. Dozens of vehicles involved; traffic remained fluid earlier, but hauliers should expect intermittent slowdowns.
- Lyon (Villeurbanne) — D183 ring road: Police intervened to disperse a group trying to block the ring road in the Cusset sector; stop-start activity reported, no long-duration closure confirmed.
- Brittany — Brest / Concarneau: Prefect reports gatherings (≈100 in Brest; smaller group at Moros roundabout, Concarneau). Traffic impact limited at time of writing.
From union channels (FGTE-CFDT/Union Fédérale Route), activity today includes filtering in Limousin, leaflet actions in Centre and Hauts-de-France, and a mobilisation around Clésud (Miramas) — these are primarily awareness/slow-down operations rather than full blockades.
08:10 BST— 18 September
Authorities have deployed 80,000 police officers and gendarmes, backed by drones, helicopters, and water cannon, to manage protests and prevent blockades from paralysing traffic. For hauliers, the day presents a high risk of delays, diversions, and operational costs.
Road blockades and disruptions
#Manifestations | Cellule de veille activée à la préfecture du #Var pour coordonner l’action des forces de l’ordre engagées sur l’opération escargot en cours à #Toulon #A57 #A50#PourVotreSécurité pic.twitter.com/yo4osNNC6p
— Préfet du Var (@Prefet83) September 18, 2025
Several prefectures have confirmed blockades and go-slow actions on key routes this morning:
- Toulon (Var) – Protesters entered the A57 and A50 motorways at the eastern and western approaches to the city, near Ollioules and La Garde. Dozens of vehicles are involved, slowing traffic at both ends of Toulon.
- Lyon (Rhône) – Police are intervening on the D183 ring road in Villeurbanne to disperse protesters attempting to block traffic. Drones, a helicopter, and even an airplane are being used to monitor the situation, alongside 1,300 police and gendarmes in the Rhône department.
- Brest and Concarneau (Finistère) – Around 100 protesters have gathered in Brest, with smaller groups in Concarneau at the Moros roundabout. These actions threaten to slow access to local routes and logistics centres.
- Paris – The authorities expect heavy disruption around the Boulevard Périphérique and logistics hubs. Some blockages at bus depots in the suburbs have already been dismantled by police.
These actions follow the “Bloquons tout” (“Block Everything”) movement’s call for “enormous” mobilisation after a smaller action on 10 September paralysed parts of the Paris ring road for hours.
🔴 LE HAVRE | Une centaine de travailleurs de plusieurs secteurs distribuent des tracts à la Brecque avant de se rendre à la manifestation du Havre à 10h et d’aller soutenir les travailleurs de Saverglass en plein PSE #18septembre2025 pic.twitter.com/D3iyHY7D2k
— Révolution Permanente (@RevPermanente) September 18, 2025
Surveillance measures and policing
Officials have described today’s policing effort as unprecedented. The use of drones for protest surveillance is now widespread. France’s combined police and gendarmerie fleet has tripled in five years to more than 1,600 drones, with over 1,500 officers trained to operate them.
In Lyon alone, drones, a helicopter, and an airplane are being used to monitor blockades and demonstrations, alongside pre-positioned water cannons and armoured vehicles.
Rail, metro and air transport also disrupted
The strike extends beyond road transport:
- Paris metro – Only automatic lines 1, 4 and 14 are running normally. Other lines operate only at peak times with reduced frequencies. Ten stations, including République, Opéra and Bastille, are closed all day.
- RER – Line A is running at three trains out of four at rush hour; line B, linking Paris to Charles de Gaulle Airport, is limited to one train in two. Other lines are heavily disrupted.
- SNCF services – Nine out of ten TGVs are operating, but only half of Intercités trains and three out of five TER regional services.
- Airports – Delays and cancellations are expected at Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly, with knock-on effects for cargo handling.
Political and social backdrop
The strike brings together the three largest transport union confederations — CFDT-FGTE, CGT Transports and FO-UNCP — in their first joint mobilisation since the pension reform protests of 2023.
The unions denounce the government’s draft budget as “unprecedentedly brutal”, citing plans to abolish public holidays, cut social benefits, and reform unemployment assistance. They are also demanding better pay and conditions for drivers, arguing that current wages “do not allow a decent living from one’s work”.
Opposition parties are backing the protests. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure said French people feel “they have never been heard”, calling for a full rejection of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s budget proposals.
What hauliers should prepare for
For road freight operators, the main risks today are:
- Long traffic jams and diversions on key corridors (A1, A6/A7, A10, A31, A45).
- Blocked access to logistics hubs in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Toulon.
- Additional police checks and delays at depots and toll stations.
- Knock-on effects from rail and air disruptions, including for intermodal and air cargo operations.
Authorities recommend hauliers:
- Closely monitor prefecture and police announcements.
- Prepare alternative routes and schedules.
- Anticipate delivery delays throughout the day.
With union processions expected in more than 250 towns and cities, and turnout projected at over 800,000 people nationwide, the 18 September mobilisation could be one of the largest in recent years.
