France sees mass strike as talks with government planned for Monday
Listen to the story
On Thursday, many people in France went on strike. A strike is when workers stop work to show they are angry. People also joined protests in cities across the country.
The French government said about 575,000 people joined the protests. But the CGT union said the number was much higher. They said 1.6 million people took part.
The CGT is a big union in France. A union is a group that helps workers. Some protesters shouted, "We will not stay quiet anymore."
The strike is part of a bigger problem between workers and the government. Many workers are not happy about new plans from the government.
Next Monday, there will be a special meeting. It is called a social conference. Union leaders, business leaders, and the government will meet at Matignon. Matignon is where the French prime minister works.
People hope this meeting will help solve the problems. For now, it is not clear what will happen next.
Vocabulary7 words
- strike
- when workers stop working to protest
- protests
- when people show they are angry in public
- CGT
- a large workers' group in France
- union
- a group that helps and speaks for workers
- social conference
- a special meeting about work problems
- Matignon
- the building where the French prime minister works
- prime minister
- a top leader of a country's government
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Quiz
Answer key
1. A big strike and protests 2. 1.6 million 3. At Matignon
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
On Thursday, many people in France went on _____.
People also joined _____ in cities across the country.
The French government said about _____ people joined the protests.
The _____ union said the number was much higher.
They said _____ million people took part.
The CGT is a big _____ in France.
Some protesters shouted, "We will not stay _____ anymore."
Next Monday, there will be a special meeting called a _____.
Union leaders, business leaders, and the government will meet at _____.
Matignon is where the French _____ works.
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