waste is piling up in the metropolis, due to a garbage collectors’ strike

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On the sidewalks, at the edges of the roads, trash cans are overflowing and the bags are piling up. Since Monday, in part of the Lille metropolis, garbage collectors have been on strike. In Loos (North), for example, they no longer pass, to the great dismay of the residents. “I find it shameful because we are here, and then there are trash cans everywhere”deplores a young woman. “It’s a bit disgusting”deplores another passerby. “Gifts and packaging of all kinds pile up, so it’s going to become a little annoying in the long run”recognizes a man.

Same feeling among traders. Marc Bonny, florist, saw the front of his shop cleaned this morning by the town hall. But for several days, he claims to have lost customers because of this garbage collectors’ strike. “There’s a pile of trash cans there, right in front of our window, which is fantastic. I think it’s a real shame.”he exclaims.

A total of 52 municipalities in the metropolis are affected by this social movement. Employees of the private garbage collection company are demanding better working conditions and more staff. “Unfortunately for the local residents, we apologize to them for this, but I want to say that today, it is our working conditions that have deteriorated at high speed. We really don’t have an easy job and, today, adding to the workload, we can’t take it anymore”testifies Samuel Gaillard, CGT Deverra delegate.

For the moment, negotiations with the management of the collection company have not yet been successful. The strike notice filed by unions is unlimited.