Paris garbage strike to spread

12 May, 2014

The protest by rubbish collectors in Paris, which started on 12 May at the Eiffel Tower, is the start of a nation-wide protest by municipal refuse disposal workers.

The General Confederation of Labour (GCL) has called its 35,000 street cleaners, rubbish collectors, lorry drivers and other operatives to strike against unhealthy conditions.

Union members are also asking for retirement privileges and a reduction of working hours, depending on their exposure to dangerous and toxic materials.

The union confederation says that its figures show that life expectancy is about five-and-a-half years lower among waste disposal workers than for those with easier jobs such as office workers and executives.