10000 tonnes of uncollected trash in Paris as unions call for more action against pension reforms - Euronews

There's an estimated 10,000 tonnes of uncollected trash piling up on the streets of the French capital, as unions call for more weekend protests and strike action against controversial pension reforms.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in Paris after two nights of protests, according to the Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, while demonstrations spread to Rennes, Nantes, Lyon and Marseille after President Emmanuel Macron used a legislative loophole to force through reforms of French pension laws which would see the retirement age raised to 64.

Oil refineries have started to close down from Saturday, as employees of TotalEnergies go on strike -- action which could eventually hit petrol pumps around the country.

Unions representing electricity and gas workers have decided to strike next week as well, calling for "the maximum disruption of work."

In the port of Le Havre, officers and sailors who operate tug boats stayed on shore Friday, considerably disrupting all activity in the port: with container ships, LNG carriers, and oil tankers not able to enter or leave the harbour.

Meanwhile an ongoing strike in Paris by garbage collectors means there's an estimated 10,000 tonnes of trash piling up on sidewalks, according to City Hall.