Garbage piles up in France after pension reform protests

Garbage piled up in Paris streets and fuel deliveries were blocked from refineries as workers continued rolling strikes against pension reform. However, President Emmanuel Macron refused to meet with unions and said the reform must go ahead. As the debate around the reform continued in the Senate, workers blocked fuel deliveries from leaving TotalEnergies and Esso refineries on Friday, while power supply was disrupted and maintenance at some EDF nuclear reactors was delayed.

Influential French trade union CGT called on garbage collectors to join rolling strikes against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform, in a bid to 'bring France to a standstill', causing rubbish to pile up in the streets. Credit: Reuters Photo

French streets are now starting to stink as garbage piles up everywhere, including alleyways and city centers. Macron's government argues that raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, abolishing privileges enjoyed by employees in some sectors, and stiffening the requirements for a full pension are required to balance the pension system. Credit: Reuters Photo

People walk on a street where garbage cans are overflowing, in Paris. France lags most of its European neighbours, which have hiked the retirement age to 65 or above. Its spending on pensions is the third highest among industrialised countries, at the equivalent of 14.5 percent of GDP. Credit: Reuters Photo

Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron has refused to meet with unions and said the reform must go ahead. 'If we want to keep this system going, we need to work longer,' Macron said last month. Credit: Reuters Photo

The waste-disposal collector unions have not set a date for the resumption of services. Credit: Reuters Photo

People stand on a street where trash is overflowing, Paris. This is a critical time for both sides (protesting unions and the government) since the government is hoping the pension changes will be adopted by parliament by the end of the month. Credit: Reuters Photo

A view of a street where garbage cans are overflowing, Paris. Macron's proposal to make people work longer is deeply unpopular amongst the wider public, opinion polls show. Credit: Reuters Photo

A person walks on a street where garbage cans are overflowing, Paris. The legislation will face a bumpy path through parliament and Macron's government may be forced to use special constitutional powers to bypass a parliamentary vote - something union leaders have warned him not to do. Credit: Reuters Photo