Paris has already piled up more than 5,000 tons of rubbish in seven days – news

The garbage bags piling up in Paris already weigh more than 5,000 tons. No waste collection took place in the city due to a strike by street sweepers who are protesting for the seventh consecutive day against Social Security reform, according to the city council.

In addition to sweeping the streets, three burning stations have stopped working in the French capital region. In some neighborhoods, garbage bags fill the entire sidewalk.

Municipal agents collect garbage in one half of the city, while the other half is run by private companies.

The CGT union states that street cleaners and garbage truck drivers can currently retire at 57 without bonuses, an age that could be deferred and increased to 59 if the reform is approved.

The project, backed by President Emmanuel Macron, intends to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 from 2030. Full board.

“The majority of employees in the Department of Sanitation and Water Management have a life expectancy between 12 and 17 years lower than the rest of the workers,” the union highlights.

On the streets, most of the people interviewed by AFP on Sunday (12) expressed their support for the strike movement.

Garris “are the first victims of this reform because they often start working at an early age and have a more difficult job than other people who are in the offices,” said Christophe Muterdi, an 18-year-old student.

“It’s terrible, there are mice and rats,” said Roman Jaya, a 36-year-old pastry chef. However, he considers forcing street sweepers to work longer as an “illusion”.

“They have every reason to go on strike and they should go on longer,” says the pastry chef. “These are the people who usually don’t have any power, but if they stop working, they have real power,” he said.

France’s Senate (upper house) on Saturday approved the controversial reform, which will continue to be voted on in the National Assembly (lower house), likely on Thursday (16).