Several social mobilizations are taking place in France against the backdrop of tensions over purchasing power and housing. In Spain, an eviction case is sparking scandal.
【Teachers' strike: forty years of wage stagnation】
France's 850,000 teachers are called to strike on Tuesday, September 29 to demand salary increases. According to Le Monde, their purchasing power has collapsed since the 1980s and no measure, including the 2023 revaluation, has been able to reverse this trend. Teachers earn an average of 900 euros less per month than other civil servants in category A. Foreign parents should expect disruptions in schools that day. Read on Le Monde
【High school blockades expand beyond Île-de-France】
According to Le Monde, the high school blockade movement, previously limited, expanded on Monday, September 28 beyond the Paris region and affected 180 institutions. The Interior Minister mentioned "urban violence" resulting in 164 arrests. The movement pits La France insoumise, which denounces an "irresponsible crackdown" according to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, against the government, which accuses the party of exploiting the mobilization. Parents and students living near affected high schools should check for possible closures or local disruptions. Read on Le Monde
【Unpaid rents: landlords turn to illegal 'evictors'】
Faced with tenants no longer paying rent, some frustrated landlords turn to specialized teams to evict squatters, reports France Info. While widespread, this practice is illegal: only a court decision can authorize a rental eviction in France. Foreign tenants and landlords should know their rights when facing this type of approach, which circumvents legal procedure. Read on France Info
【Selling jewelry to pay rent or heat】
More and more French people are selling their gold jewelry in buyback shops, such as in Marseille, to finance their everyday expenses: groceries, rent, or heating oil refills, according to France Info. This phenomenon illustrates the growing pressure of the cost of living on households, a direct issue for immigrant families with often more limited incomes. Read on France Info
【Anti-waste shelves gain popularity amid inflation】
As prices continue to rise, anti-waste shelves in supermarkets, which offer reduced-price foods approaching their consumption date, are becoming increasingly popular with customers, according to France Info. A simple and accessible trick to reduce your daily food bill. Read on France Info
【2027 Budget: a tax on sugary products under discussion】
The food industry denounces a proposed tax on sugary products that would be included in the Social Security financing bill, according to reports from multiple media outlets relayed by France Info. When contacted, the relevant ministries neither confirmed nor denied this measure, which could affect the price of certain everyday consumer products if adopted. Read on France Info
【Spain: the eviction of an octogenarian, symbol of the housing crisis】
In Spain, images of Maricarmen Abascal, 87, being evicted on a stretcher from her Madrid apartment on Wednesday triggered a vast protest movement against rising housing costs and tenant evictions, reports France Info. This case illustrates the growing tension over housing in several European countries, an issue closely followed by diaspora communities moving between France and Spain. Read on France Info
【Spain: a dynamic economy driven by a different immigration policy】
According to France Info, Spain is showing strong economic growth, job creation, and salary increases, driven by strong domestic consumption and an immigration policy that contrasts with those pursued by other European countries, including France. This contrast fuels debate over the links between immigration policy and economic dynamism in Europe. Read on France Info