French trade unions protest

Paris, France: The streets of the country's capital are filled with workers who are worried about what is going to happen to their jobs in the economic downturn Photograph: Benoit Tessier/Reuters

Nice, southern France: Workers from Air France protest in the streets with inflatable planes Photograph: Valery Hache/Getty

Paris, France: Medical staff on strike carry an effigy of the French president Nicolas Sarkozy Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Lyon, eastern France: Masked students walk the streets, bearing signs to explain why they are protesting, these read "Liberties eroded" "NATO over EU" "Post office privatised" "Secularism eroded" "Hospitals shut-down" Photograph: Jean-philippe Ksiazek/Getty

Marseille, France: Arcelor Mittal steel workers demonstrate Photograph: Jean-paul Pelissier/Reuters

Marseille, France: Demonstrators from French trade unions stick their logos on to the buses from the transport systems that have ground to a halt Photograph: Michel Gangne/Getty

Paris, France: A worker on strike carrying CGT union flags is silhouetted during a rally Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA

Lille, northern France: People demonstrate on the streets of the city, their banner reads: "Together, avoid being the crisis' victims" Photograph: Philippe Huguen/Getty

Marseille, France: Arcelor Mittal workers demonstrate Photograph: Jean-Paul Pelissier/Reuters

Marseille, France: Hundreds of thousands of French public and private sector workers demonstrate during a protest march Photograph: Jean-paul Pelissier/Reuters

Marseille, France: Actors disguised as French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy protest in the streets Photograph: Gerard Julien/Getty

Nice, southern France: Workers wave Solidaires trade union flags as they protest in the streets of Nice Photograph: Valery Hache/Getty

Marseille, southern France: Members of the CGT French trade union prepare banners on the eve of the nationwide protest Photograph: Gerard Julien/Getty

Montpellier, France: A member of CFDT union prepares a banner reading "strike" Photograph: Guillaume Horcajuelo/EPA