Garbage collectors’ strike in Toulouse: comment Marseille managed its crisis
82 days of conflict between the garbage collectors of Marseille and the Metropolis have rotted the streets of the Marseille city. The conflict was defused following the agreement between Marseille Métropole and the unions.
For 82 days, waste piled up in the Marseille city. The law which requires communities to make their agents work 1,607 hours – which came into force on January 1, 2022 – caused an earthquake in Marseille. In September, the metropolis tried to put out the incipient fire. The garbage collectors threatened to go on strike, revolted against the increase in working hours. To do this, Marseille Métropole has concluded an oral agreement with the majority union FO.
“We agreed that in recognition of the arduousness, we grant a reduction in working time of around 9.5% (1,455 working hours, Editor’s note) and a monthly increase of 80 euros”, confides Yves Moraine , metropolitan councilor in charge of negotiations.
The other unions protested against this secret agreement. At the beginning of December, “it was very difficult on the ground,” continued the elected Marseille Métropole. The trash cans filled up without ever being picked up. Striking garbage collectors have been requisitioned by the prefecture to make up for the delay in collection.
To obtain a quick agreement, Yves Moraine led the inter-union negotiations. An agreement was signed at the end of December. Among the twenty or so proposals, a 15% reduction in working time (ie 1,397 hours worked or the granting of 28 days not worked) and a monthly increase of 90 euros for each agent were recorded. Force Ouvrière refused this agreement before changing their mind a week more, thanks to a new proposal. It’s a painful job, ”slices the elected official. The situation seems to have stabilized… but until when?