- Title: Health workers stage protest in Paris on Bastille day
- Date: 14th July 2020
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (JULY 14, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HEALTH WORKERS AT PROTEST ON BASTILLE DAY HEALTH WORKERS CLAPPING
- Embargoed: 28th July 2020 17:14
- Keywords: Bastille Day France Macron Paris coronavirus health workers national day protest
- Location: PARIS, FRANCE
- City: PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CMS7Y2V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: EDIT 2175-FRANCE-NATIONALDAY/CEREMONY-HEALTH WORKERS HAS IMAGES OF HEALTH WORKER IN BASTILLE DAY CEREMONY, SOME IN TEARS AS MINISTERS APPLAUD THEM
French health workers marched in Paris on Tuesday (July 14) to call for better working conditions and higher pay.
The march coincided with Bastille Day celebrations, including a ceremony attended by French President Emmanuel Macron that the government has dedicated to health workers who have been mobilised in the battle against the new coronavirus.
Hundreds, many in hospital gowns, marched from Place de la Republique square to Bastille square, carrying signs, chanting and dancing. Some "yellow vest" protesters also joined the march in support of health workers.
Despite being praised with daily applause by people on their balconies during the height of the outbreak in March and April, health workers said they should instead be rewarded for their work with higher salaries and more funding for equipment and additional personnel. Hospital workers had been protesting even before the virus outbreak, calling for better working conditions.
In recognition of their contribution during the outbreak, the government paid healthcare workers a 1,500 euro bonus. French Health Minister Olivier Veran has also proposed the allotment of 6 billion euros to increase salaries for health workers. But many deemed the move insufficient.
Although the protest has been generally peaceful, a few tensions arose towards the end of the march, with police deploying some tear gas at protesters.
(Production: Noemie Olive, Yonathan Van der Voort, Ardee Napolitano) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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