Waste has not been collected in several districts of Marseille for twelve days, due to a strike by employees of the Derichebourg company.

Local authorities are trying to find emergency solutions, while exasperation is mounting among residents. 

REPORTAGE

Employees of the Derichebourg collection and recycling company in Marseille have been on strike for several days.

Result: three districts of the city are littered with rubbish that has not been picked up.

More than 900 tons of waste are piling up according to a prefectural estimate, and the authorities are trying, as best they can, to bring the garbage collectors back to work.

A conflict between employees and management is at the origin of this strike, the employees accusing their superiors of harassment and demanding their departure.

The management denounces, for its part, blackmail and refuses to give in to the demands.

>> READ ALSO -

Socialist Benoît Payan elected mayor of Marseille

Social dialogue at a standstill

Social dialogue has stalled since the start of this strike, twelve days ago.

The local authorities are struggling to bring the employees back to the negotiating table, the prefect has therefore chosen a more immediate solution: he issued an order allowing the requisitioning of the employees.

They are called upon to resume collection as quickly as possible, but they do not hear it that way and have announced their desire to contest this decree.

"We sincerely apologize for being on strike in the midst of a health crisis," explains Lionel Martini, heavy goods vehicle driver, FO union representative, quoted by

France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

.

"But the Derichebourg company is not the problem. The problem is the management of the local management. We are not asking for money, we are just asking to resume work in good conditions."

>>

READ ALSO -

"I will accompany him to see Marseille succeed": Samia Ghali explains her vote for Payan

The metropolis, for its part, is responsible for dealing with the emergency by installing dumpsters in the city.

She was afraid that the Marseillais, in anger, would decide to burn their garbage - which some have already done, reports

La Provence

.

By tomorrow, residents will therefore be able to dispose of their garbage in these temporary facilities.