"The bulk of the strike effort will begin on September 18": in Nantes, September 10th looks like a warm-up lap

Special correspondent, Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) .

It's not yet dawn when small groups flock to Place Rosa-Parks in Nantes. This strategic roundabout was targeted by supporters of September 10th. The meeting point was set for 6 a.m. Wearing a yellow vest, and without claiming to be part of the movement, Anna is one of the 300 people trying to occupy the traffic area.

"France is dying while the rich are gorging themselves. Bayrou's departure doesn't change anything. It was certain that Macron would continue his liberal policies. Now we have to block the economy," asserts the young teacher. As the police force forms, the activist, a regular at the Nantes autonomous protests, whispers to her friends: "For the moment, it's a show of force by the state."

In the capital of Loire-Atlantique, the last general meetings before September 10 brought together more than 400 people. In response, the police presence is substantial, with no fewer than twenty CRS trucks at Rosa-Parks.

Without the leverage to block the protests, the protesters decided to play a cat-and-mouse game with the police in the adjacent streets. Elsewhere in the city, the police are using similar tactics. "It's not working at the Esplanade du Cardo either," read one of the discussions on the encrypted messaging service Signal from the Nantes core group.

Shortly before 7 a.m., the group attempted to reach the Valo'Loire incinerator, about forty minutes away on foot, blocked by the CGT.

Among the seasoned activists, whether independent, black bloc, or union members, a few first-time protesters outside of union circles are still present. Like Christelle, a teacher: "I didn't come during the Yellow Vest protests, but this time, Macron has gone too far with his austerity plans and his disrespect for the ballot box. We must scare the government. Lecornu's appointment is a new provocation."

Behind her round glasses, the mother is adamant: "I don't have the means to teach my students properly. Neither does my husband, a nurse."

Three hours later, around a hundred of the most determined protesters managed to join the picket line from the ring road, supervised by riot police. Around thirty officers held a rally in front of the incinerator, while 95% of the staff were on strike.

"No trucks will be leaving today. We're supporting the 10th, but we're also demanding better working conditions. This is a trial run, pending the inter-union day on September 18," insists Patrick, a maintenance technician and CGT union representative from Valo'Loire. "The state and the prefecture have put in place the means to prevent blockades. But here, we're holding on! Bayrou, Lecornu, or someone else, it will take a social movement to meet our needs."

At the same time, from 4 a.m. onwards, a major CGT mobilization enabled a large roadblock to be set up around the airport.

The union had arranged to meet at 11 a.m. at Place du Commerce to bring together the various initiatives. Around noon, more than 1,500 people, mostly young people, gathered. There were also strikers, including railway workers, teachers, health care workers, and cultural workers, who mobilized with their unions.

"The bulk of the strike effort will begin on September 18," assures Aurélien, a maintenance technician at SNCF. In his workshop, 25% of the workforce has nevertheless stopped working. "In addition to austerity, we must combat the consequences of opening up to competition, which is leveling down our working conditions," continues the 28-year-old railway worker.

Further along the artery, Catherine, a housewife and early yellow vest , begins to hope: "Why not occupy a place, sleep there in tents and set up barbecues this evening?"

As the rain begins to fall, a group of 200 protesters, led by the Black Bloc, attempts to enter Nantes city center without violence. Without further ado, the CRS disperses the crowd with tear gas, then evacuates the entire square. If this is how the September 10th rally ends, the social autumn is only just beginning.