Strasbourg Faces School Blockades and Protests This Week
As the All Saints’ vacation ended on Monday, November 2, Strasbourg faces a disrupted week of school blockades, transit strikes, and widespread demonstrations leading up to a national walkout on Thursday, November 5, pokaa.fr reported. Student organizations and labor unions are mobilizing across the Alsatian capital against selection reforms and the rising cost of living, while local authorities enforce strict assembly bans around educational institutions.
School Blockades and Police Deployments Mark the Return to Class
The end of the holiday break brought immediate student mobilizations. The organization “Les Lycéens!” initiated actions on Monday morning, leading to student gatherings at several local high schools including Louis-Pasteur, Couffignal, Marie-Curie, René-Cassin, and Fustel-de-Coulanges. At the Fustel-de-Coulanges high school, national police CRS units deployed around midday as youth gathered outside. The demonstration concluded without incident.
Authorities have enacted an official prefectural decree banning unannounced gatherings within a 50-meter radius of multiple high school entrances. The measure remains in effect from November 2 through November 6, carrying penalties for failure to comply. Simultaneously, university infrastructure has seen direct disruptions. Buildings belonging to the University of Strasbourg—specifically the Cardo, the Palais Universitaire, and the Portique—faced active blockades as the week began.
Escalating Actions Ahead of the Thursday National Strike
Mobilization is scheduled to intensify further as student unions, including the Union syndicale lycéenne and the Union étudiante, organize additional general assemblies. Sabrine Kharbach, spokesperson for the Union étudiante, stated that students plan to picket universities and high schools ahead of the broader worker demonstrations, according to Franceinfo. Public transit in Strasbourg is also affected, with the CTS announcing a transit strike.
The student groups maintain several core demands: an emergency renovation plan for educational facilities, massive staff hirings, the abolition of selection mechanisms via Parcoursup and Mon Master, a freeze on Crous housing rents, and an end to police repression. These actions persist despite government announcements made last week regarding the cancellation of planned civil service job cuts, the gradual replacement of Parcoursup within two years, and the creation of 500 new posts and 15,000 higher education slots.
Broad Labor Union Call for the November 5 Walkout
Following a large demonstration on October 31 that drew thousands of participants to Strasbourg, major labor unions—including FO, CGT, CFDT, Unsa, and FSU—have called for a combined strike day on Thursday, November 5. The call encompasses public and private sector workers, students, and retirees. Protesters are organizing around purchasing power, public service reinforcement, improved wages, tax justice, and employment defense.
Planned actions for Thursday include a march starting from Place de la République at 2:00 PM, alongside potential disruptions targeting regional transit routes such as the A35 highway.
Uncertain End-of-Week Protests and the Ongoing Fourth Act
While traditional labor organizations have not yet detailed actions beyond Thursday, independent movements signal continued disruption. Activists plan a regional “six-seven popular” action for November 6 and 7, coinciding with the fourth act of weekend demonstrations occurring nationwide. Local authorities and transit operators have not yet confirmed the full operational impact these late-week gatherings will have on municipal services.