Consequence of the strike: Paris sinks in the rubbish

Garbage mountains and stench: because of the planned pension reform, the municipal garbage disposal in Paris has been on strike for a week. The union warns that the garbage problem could get worse.

Cardboard boxes, black plastic bags, styrofoam: in some districts of Paris, strolling is becoming an obstacle course. Garbage is piling up on the roadside everywhere. Jean-Luc is a butcher in the 15th arrondissement. In the morning he vents his anger on the television station BFMTV.

Jean-Luc points to the overflowing bins in front of his shop. “People can’t get through on the sidewalk anymore. I saw rats this morning! If it stays that way and if Madame Hidalgo doesn’t do something quickly, we’ll get over our heads.”

There are still 500 days until the start of the Olympic Games. “If this continues, we can forget about the Olympics.” Tourists were already taking photos and posting them online. “Madame Hidalgo – hurry, otherwise this will end badly,” he warns.

Garbage collectors are on strike over pension plans

Anne Hidalgo – the mayor of Paris, member of the Parti Socialiste – still appears – but don’t think about doing anything. Garbage collectors have been on strike for a week as part of the protests against the planned pension reform.

Hidalgo only emphasized again on Monday that she supports this strike. She is fully behind the protests. “If this affects people who work in the public sector – as well as those who are employed by private companies – then I say to the government: talk to them! Try to understand what these people are trying to tell them. Then we’ll keep talking !”

5600 tons of garbage on the streets

An attitude that caused many people and also Hidalgo’s political opponents to shake their heads uncomprehendingly. According to the city administration, around 5,600 tons of garbage had collected on the streets of Paris on Monday. And there are more every day.

Silvain Maillard is a member of the Renaissance presidential party and is the deputy for Paris in the French National Assembly. Where garbage collection has been privatized, it works to some extent – about half of the arrondissements, he reports.

“We demand that there be a certain solidarity: that is, that the employees of private garbage collection companies at least pick up the garbage in front of schools and kindergartens and that it is at least reasonably clean there,” says Maillard. The mayor must ensure that some of the strikers work again.

Support from other regions

In some neighborhoods where rubbish is particularly high, district mayors have already requested vehicles and staff from other parts of France. But the situation could also worsen in the districts where garbage collection has been privatized – and is currently still running to some extent. Because three waste incineration plants in the suburbs of Paris are currently on strike.

Rachida Dati, mayor of the 7th arrondissement and member of the conservative Les Républicains, is convinced that a guaranteed minimum level of garbage collection services is necessary to avoid risks to public health and order.

The right to strike has constitutional status

Both the right to strike and the continuity of public services have constitutional status in France, experts say. In practice, however, the right to strike often prevails. Natacha Pommet, secretary of the CGT public sector union, recalled the reason for the strike:

Although the public debate is currently focused on Paris, the garbage also remains on the streets in other larger French cities. The garbage men and women want to continue their strike until tomorrow – at least.