10,000 tonnes of uncollected waste in Paris as unions call for more action against pension reform

An estimated 10,000 tonnes of uncollected waste is piling up on the streets of the French capital, as unions call for more weekend protests and strikes against controversial pension reforms.

Hundreds arrested in Paris after two nights of protests, interior minister says Gerald Darmaninwhile protests have spread to Rennes, Nantes, Lyon and Marseille after President Emmanuel Macron used a legislative loophole to push through reforms to France’s pension laws that would see the retirement age raised to 64.

The French opposition parties have now tabled a motion of censure to try to overthrow the Macron government over its pension reform.

Unions have called for more localized protests over the weekend and strikes are already planned for next week.

Flight cancellations expected, with up to 30% of flights at Paris-Orly airport and 20% of flights at Marseille-Provence airport disrupted by a strike by air traffic controllers.

SNCF railway unions have called for further industrial action, with widespread cancellations set for next Thursday on long-distance rail lines and the Paris metro; while suburban train journeys in Paris are already affected by strikes this weekend.

Oil refineries began shutting down from Saturday as TotalEnergies workers go on strike – an action that could eventually hit gas pumps across the country.

Unions representing electricity and gas workers have also decided to strike next week, calling for “maximum disruption of work”.

In the port of Le Havre, officers and sailors who operate tugs remained ashore on Friday, considerably disrupting all port activity: container ships, LNG carriers and tankers unable to enter or leave the harbor.

In Calais, ferry traffic to the UK was completely halted on Friday morning.

Meanwhile, an ongoing strike in Paris by garbage collectors means around 10,000 tonnes of rubbish is piling up on the sidewalks, according to the town hall.