The city of romance looks more like a city of rubbish as over 5,000 tons of garbage has piled up on the streets of Paris amid workers’ strike over new pension reforms.
AFP/ Getty
Jump To
Massive strikes due to pension age
Tension continues to grow in the French capital – as demonstrated by violent protests last week – with millions furious at the president’s attempt to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. Senators passed the reforms by 195 votes to 112, bringing the package a step closer to becoming law.
The unpopular bill, which would put France’s retirement age more in line with its EU neighbours and the UK, got a push forward with the French Senate’s adoption of the measure. This move was taken despite strikes and protests spiralling out of control, transport chaos affecting trains, metros and some airports and the uncollected garbage piling higher by the day.
AFP/ Getty
Over 5,000 tons of garbage on the streets
As the country currently prepares for another week of protests and industrial action, more than 5,400 tons of trash remain uncollected on the streets of the capital, according to an assessment by Paris City Hall. Three waste treatment sites have been blockaded and a fourth partially closed.
In photos and videos shared on social media, garbage bags could be seen, forming shoulder-high piles of waste, on the city’s normally pristine streets.
This is where I will give my talk this afternoon. Maison de la Recherche @Sorbonne_Univ_
The piles of garbage are because of a strike to protest pension reforms. pic.twitter.com/LDWGFjLZMG— Elisabeth Bik is in the Netherlands (@MicrobiomDigest) March 13, 2023
Welcome to Paris 🗼😊 pic.twitter.com/1JvNwqblen
— Tayo Aina (@tayoainafilms) March 11, 2023
Garbage Collectors’ Strike – Is this Paris? pic.twitter.com/AoaNiKBxRD
— mandakini narain (@mandakininarain) March 13, 2023
Yesterday marked the Parisian waste collectors’ 7th consecutive day of strikes against Pres. Macron’s pension reforms. Over 5,400 metric tons of garbage have accumulated on the streets of Paris. La vie en rose!pic.twitter.com/WkRJgoqpW6
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) March 13, 2023
The chaos is marring many of the city’s most picturesque streets near iconic monuments, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe.
“Three incineration plants outside the capital have been hit by the work stoppages that have left entire pavements covered in black bags and overflowing bins,” reports France 24.
“Strike action has mostly hit France’s capital, but garbage collectors in other parts of the country, such as Rennes, have also walked out,” reports The Local.
Strikes to continue
Unions have called for walkouts to continue until Wednesday, when the country’s eight largest unions have called for another day of general strikes and demonstrations.
AFP/ Getty
Click Here: nrl merchandise
On Tuesday, 1.28 million people took to the streets in demonstrations across the country, the highest turnout on the sixth day of protest against the reform this year.
The joint committee is tasked with finding a compromise between the legislation’s Senate and National Assembly versions.
For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.