“We are here to support those who have more difficulties. But for executives too, it’s hard”: in the CFDT procession, the discomfort of white-collar workers

Some go on strike. Others spent half a day on RTT. This Thursday, November 5, at Place de la République in Paris, CFDT executives put on their orange vests to demonstrate against the high cost of living alongside high school students, intermediate professions, workers, civil servants... In the compact crowd, some wore sunglasses on the tip of their noses.

The sun peeks through the gray clouds of the Parisian sky. “We did not need to ring the general mobilization,” assures Anne-Florence Quintin, national secretary of the CFDT Cadres. The activists came en masse on their own.

» The center claims some 100,000 executives among its 640,000 members. Scattered throughout the Cedetist procession, they have, like everyone else here, their demands. Their states of mind.

“We are aware that we are not the most to complain about when it comes to purchasing power,” says Sylvie, in her dashing fifties, with a pink scarf around her neck. We are also here to support non-executives who have more difficulties. But for executives too, it’s hard.

»The same morning, the Association for Executive Employment (Apec) published its annual barometer. In June 2026, the median gross annual remuneration of private sector executives, including the variable portion, stood at 54,000 euros, down 1.8% over one year. A first since 2010.

The erosion of purchasing power can also be seen over time. Between 2017 and 2024, the average net salary of private sector executives fell by almost 5% in constant euros, according to INSEE. Executive salaries: discover the value of your roleInter-union demonstration made up of the CFDT, the CGT, FO, the Unsa and FSU, and high school and student organizations for salaries, public services, employment and industry, means for national education, on November 5, 2026 at Place de la République in Paris.

“Executives also arbitrate between certain expenses” Around 5 p.m., CFDT activists are standing still. They are still waiting for the procession to set off towards the Place de la Nation. The balloons in the colors of the major federations float in the air, motionless.

On vans, XXL speakers stacked together broadcast music. Louise Attaque, Manu Chao, rap, R’n’B… Some activists sketch dance steps to pass the time and warm up. There is a scent of the great mobilization against the 2023 pension reform.

Many Cedetist activists have not demonstrated since. Next to the CFDT agri-food courier, a plastic cow surveys the demonstrators. This is where we meet Valérie Delacourt, central delegate of Crédit agricole SA.

The trade unionist is preparing the obligatory annual negotiations (NAO) for the approximately 2,000 executives of this group entity. The CFDT has a large majority there, with 60% representation. While reached 3.4% over one year in October, the union is demanding an increase of 2,000 euros gross per year in the base salary for each employee.

Machine-translated from French