In Martinique, the French Caribbean island, two major unions have decided to participate in the ongoing demonstrations against the high cost of living, which has led France to deploy anti-riot police to the area. These protests have caused traffic disruptions as a transportation union instructed tractor-trailers to block main roads and public bus drivers to halt their services. Another union representing health workers, local authorities, and the private sector has declared an indefinite strike beginning on Thursday. Their demands include an increase in the minimum wage, retirement pensions, and regulations on the prices of essential goods.

The initial protests kicked off in early September and have escalated to violence, resulting in injuries to six police officers and one civilian the previous week. To manage the situation, France has dispatched anti-riot police, known as the Companies for Republican Security, at the behest of Martinique’s government. Measures such as a curfew and a prohibition on protests have been implemented in response to the unrest.