PARIS (Sputnik) — French police used tear gas against Paris protesters taking part in a joint rally of public sector workers organized across France by the CGT and Solidaires trade unions on Thursday, local media reported.
The Franceinfo media outlet reported that the peaceful march that started at 3 p.m. local time (13:00 GMT) resulted in clashes with police after they blocked demonstrators marching from Montparnasse train station toward Place d'Italie.
As many as 133 protests are being staged place across France as the trade unions called for workers from different sectors, such as railroad workers, public officials, energy sector workers, among others, to join what they called a "convergence of battle." This is the first initiative to build a united front against President Emmanuel Macron's reforms.
Today, railroad workers are joined by civil employees, students and unemployed people. Protests are taking place in Marseilles as well, where thousands have taken to the streets.