While a new garbage collectors’ strike began six days ago in Marseille, the police headquarters ordered the requisition of agents to resume waste collection. Force Ouvrière filed an appeal against this decision before the administrative court.
The garbage collectors’ strike in Marseille is slipping into the judiciary. While the garbage cans continue to accumulate six days after the start of the new movement, the police headquarters of Bouches-du-Rhône had ordered, this Friday, the requisition of agents to resume the collection of waste.
“We are attacking the constitutional right to strike”
This decision angered the Force Ouvrière (F0) union, the majority among garbage collectors in Marseille and at the origin of this new strike, the third since September. FO decided to challenge the requisition in court before the administrative court. The general secretary of the union among territorial agents in Marseille, Patrick Rué, believes that the decision of the police headquarters violates the right to strike.
“A requisition after 72 hours (…) is unheard of in France. In fact, we are attacking the constitutional right to strike in France and it is very serious what is happening today”, protests Patrick Rué.
Many districts of the Marseille city are affected by the cessation of waste collection. About 1,500 tons of garbage were accumulated in the city last Friday, according to the police headquarters.
Force Ouvrière denounces the non-respect of the agreement concluded at the end of 2021 during the previous conflict and in particular asks the Métropole de Marseille for a schedule adjustment due to the Covid-19, and a bonus for agents working on Sundays.
A decision of the administrative court expected on Monday
For its part, the Metropolis continues to be firm in this conflict. Its representative Yves Moraine, departmental councilor for Bouches-du-Rhône, says he does not want to give in to the union’s demands.
“There is no question of satisfying the illegal and die-hard demands of Force Ouvrière. We are mobilizing all possible means, requisitioning, medical checks, the private sector, to pick up the trash notwithstanding the absolutely incomprehensible and unacceptable position of Force Ouvrière”, supports Yves Moraine at the microphone of RMC.
The decision of the administrative court is expected on Monday concerning the requisition of the agents which made it possible to partially resume the collection of garbage. In the meantime, a lot of waste and trash cans still litter the streets of Marseille.
Elected officials and associations have also warned of the environmental risks caused by the prolonged stoppage of waste collection. According to figures from the town hall, 50 tons of waste spread into the sea, and only 15 tons were collected. On BFM Marseille, the deputy mayor in charge of ecological transition, Sébastien Barles said he was worried about a “new ecocide” for the Mediterranean Sea.
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