France: Pres hopefuls decry price hike as union strikers dodge teargas in Paris

Follow us on Telegram: Subscribe to our channel! Presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Melenchon was seen alongside union activists in Paris on Thursday, during just one of 170 protests across France related to a national day of strike action over the rising cost of living. Thousands of supporters and members of one of France’s biggest unions CGT marched through the French capital, bearing placards reading “my sign is rotten, my salary too“ and “raise salaries, lower shareholders.“ Some protesters were dispersed by tear gas. CGT Secretary General Philippe Martinez laid out the union’s demands, which include improved workers’ rights and a pay increase in line with inflation. “We cannot wait for the elections to increase salaries,” he said: “There is an urgency to increase salaries and what is interesting is that at the start of the campaign no candidate spoke about wages. Today they are all forced to