Before the Olympics, garbage collectors go on strike in Paris

Tuesday, May 14 in the morning, nearly 400 striking agents from the cleanliness and water department (DPE) of the City of Paris, which manages waste collection from half of the capital’s districts, set up shop rue de Lobau (4th arrondissement), in front of the city’s human resources department building. “Everything is there to stay a long time, there is even a barbecue”says Smina Mebtouche, general secretary of the waste treatment, cleaning, water, sewer, sanitation (FTDNEEA) sector of the CGT, at the origin of a social movement which seeks to take advantage of the Paris Olympic Games.

The union, the majority in the DPE, filed a strike notice at the end of April, in which it notably demanded an exceptional bonus of 1,900 euros for all garbage collectors, sewer workers and skip drivers – in recognition of their commitment to the success of the Olympic Games – as well as an increase of 400 euros per month in the allowance for duties, constraints and expertise, which constitutes a significant part of their remuneration.

Despite several discussions with the office of Olivia Polski, deputy mayor in charge of human resources, the parties were unable to agree, and the agents began the strike this Tuesday for a period of three days. Was the movement followed by the 7,500 DPE officials? While the CGT claimed at midday 70% to 90% of strikers depending on the districts, the City of Paris indicated to Monde a strike rate of 16% among the 5,000 garbage collectors. A much lower rate, but higher than the last mobilization on the subject, on April 24, which resulted in 6.3% of strikers among cleaning staff.

“We want to be more recognized”

“If the city is dirty, the whole world will see it, but we have demands that have been dragging on for years. After having a meeting with the garbage collectors, our drivers got together, and we decided to support them in their approach. When we see the bonuses that RATP agents or police officers obtained with a ridiculous strike…”describes Didier Labruyère, garbage dumpster driver and Force Ouvrière union delegate from the Victor-Hugo garage in Ivry-sur-Seine (Val-de-Marne), one of the five garages which supply the capital.

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Tuesday, 86% of the drivers in this garage were on strike, and the delegate believes in the mobilization of the 900 drivers in the City. “This year, we only had a gross increase of 120 euros, paid from July. With twenty-six years of seniority, I am at 2,500 euros net with bonusesdeplores Didier Labruyère. We want to be more recognized for our work, which is increasingly complicated with bicycles, pedestrians…”

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2024-05-14 17:23:43
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