French firefighters launch national strike over staffing shortages

French professional firefighters are intensifying their mobilization to demand increased human and material resources. Since September 8, eight out of nine firefighter unions have issued a one-month strike notice, aiming to influence upcoming budget debates.

A major three-day demonstration is scheduled for September 27–29 in Paris. Protesters plan to occupy the Champ-de-Mars and march toward the Ministry of Economy and Finance at Bercy. The movement seeks to address critical staffing shortages, with unions calling for the recruitment of 21,000 professional firefighters to alleviate the strain on the volunteer system.

In the Vienne department, tensions have escalated following a proposal by SDIS President Benoît Coquelet to increase weekly working hours from 35 to 39 to compensate for staff shortages. Unions, including the CGT, have rejected this suggestion, arguing it does not solve the underlying issue of missing personnel and instead degrades emergency response capabilities. Local representatives have called for the president's resignation, citing a lack of support for staff and administrative overload.