Garbage cans are still overflowing in the Marseille train station and metro

In Marseille, trash cans are still overflowing at Saint-Charles station and in the metro. This Tuesday, the employees of the company Laser Propreté, in charge of cleaning at the SNCF and the RTM, begin their ninth day of strike
. They are demanding guarantees for their jobs and better working conditions, but no solution has yet been found. The damage caused by this strike is causing strong reactions from touristsespecially foreigners, visiting Marseille.

“We say that Marseille is faithful to the rumours”

Arriving at the station, Dominic, originally from Montreal, discovered the mounds of trash cans. A first image of the city that he finds regrettable: “What I find unfortunate is that it is the gateway to the city, blows this tourist. It’s sad because the rest of the city is relatively clean. There, we say that Marseille is faithful to the rumors of the city.

An observation shared by these other tourists, passing through. “It’s confusing, it doesn’t look good, regret this French tourist. I didn’t expect to see so much rubbish, it’s shameful from a health point of view”. For this English-speaking tourist, “with the heat, it smells really bad the garbage cans in the station”and it does not give “really not a good picture” from the city.

No way out of the crisis

In the station, the employees explain that they are on strike because they fear for their jobs: the SNCF must renew the contract in two years. On the metro part, they accuse the RTM of charging penalties to Laser Propreté in the event of poor performance. Penalties that would then be passed on to employees.

On his side, the RTM apologizes to its users in a press release issued Monday evening. “The RTM finds itself the victim of a social conflict that does not concern it, explains the company. None of the claims expressed, as reported in the media, have any connection with the RTM. The employees of its cleaning service provider have indeed initiated a movement in solidarity with their colleagues working for a client other than the RTM. The current situation is unacceptable and it cannot remain without consequences.”