Decathlon employees strike in France demanding wage increases

Thousands of Decathlon employees across France walked off the job Saturday, demanding significant wage increases. The inter-union group called for the national mobilization, highlighting a perceived disconnect between the sporting goods retailer's financial performance and employee compensation.

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Life is not rosy at Decathlon, at least not for those who work there.

"Life is not rosy at Decathlon, at least not for those who work there," Sébastien Chauvin, a central CFDT union delegate, stated at a Paris rally. He joined dozens of employees distributing leaflets and gathering signatures for an online petition, which had garnered over 5,300 supporters by mid-afternoon. In Paris, some strikers briefly entered a store, using a megaphone to call for salary adjustments.

Decathlon reported that only 5% of its 23,000 employees participated in the strike, with 99% of its 324 stores remaining open. However, union representatives argue that the company's net profit rose 16% to 910 million euros in 2025, with revenue increasing by 4% to 16.8 billion euros. "Yet, our purchasing power is decreasing," lamented Véronique Andrade, a 29-year employee. She criticized the "millions of euros" executives stand to gain.

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Yet, our purchasing power is decreasing.

Employees also point to increasingly complex job descriptions and staff reductions, leading to heavier workloads without corresponding salary increases. "Our job descriptions are becoming more and more complex, and at the same time, the company is reducing staff, so we have more and more tasks, fewer resources to do them, and it's not reflected in our salaries," said Simon Korpiun, a salesperson and CFDT delegate. Decathlon assured it "maintains regular dialogue with staff representatives and remains attentive, on a daily basis, to the expectations of its employees."

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Our job descriptions are becoming more and more complex, and at the same time, the company is reducing staff, so we have more and more tasks, fewer resources to do them, and it's not reflected in our salaries.