The mobilization was called by French trade union organizations. They report that across the country, a total of 1.6 million people are participating in the strike, including 350,000 in Paris.

The unions are speaking out against rising cost of food, energy, housing which have eroded workers' purchasing power, while wages and pensions haven't kept pace. They are demanding wage increases, more funding for public services, and protections for industrial jobs. Their demands include wage increases, more funding for public services, and protections for industrial jobs.

The general strike is an escalation of the student demonstrations which have rocked France the last few weeks calling for more investment in public education, school staff, and deteriorating school infrastructure.

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