Travelers with Paris on their itinerary may want to reconsider plans if they are going any time soon. There is so much to experience in the City of Light, but now may not be the best time to go.
Those with dreams of sidewalk cafes, art museums, and dreamy European architecture could be very disappointed if they were to visit.
Due to a new bill potentially increasing retirement age requirements and pension contributions, the city’s garbage collectors have gone on strike.
It is estimated that over 6,000 tons of waste is covering half the city with overfilled bins causing an unpleasant atmosphere for those looking for a Parisian getaway!
Endless Piles in Paris
Just about any major city across the globe is going to have some areas that can be considered dirty. New York has pizza-eating rats, Mexico City has pollution, and now Paris has overflowing garbage.
Travel is a game of give and take for those willing to give any place a chance.
The trouble is that Paris is such a popular destination for millions of annual visitors, especially with its romantic mystique portrayed in film and television for years.
Expectations are set for travelers wanting to see the Paris that they feel they already know.
@beatritrix
This week, travelers could go and still find themselves having a great time. There are still sidewalk cafes to enjoy premium wine and cheese.
The Eiffel Tower isn’t going anywhere, nor are the countless museums to explore.
But when people wander through the beautiful winding streets of Paris, they don’t envision weaving in and out of rotting waste.
Taking a selfie in front of the Eiffel Tower while also covering your nose and trying not to gag probably isn’t what they had in mind.
@madame.tartempion Garbage collectors on strike in Paris right now 🫣 I really wonder why this type of thing wasnt featured on Emily in Paris? #paris #thisisparis #emilyinparis #americaninparis #lifeinparis #lifeinfrance
What Are Travelers Experiencing?
Mixed reviews are pouring in from travelers, as some unselfishly support the movement and understand the circumstances.
Others feel this should be more of a mainstream story and wish they had been made aware of the situation.
One TikToker had a heartfelt observation saying she feels terrible for first-timers in Paris this week as this isn’t a true representation of this magnificent city.
@francesurvivalguide I guess it could be worse, like 90 degrees in the middle of July 😮💨 #foryou #fyp #paristiktok #greve #trash #paris #traveltipsoftiktok
“I’ve never seen a city with so much trash on the street. They must collect it once a week or something, it’s not very nice at all.” – Portuguese tourist Fabio Figueirado
@ms.nextlevel Paris – the city of trash! #newyork #newyorkcity #newyorktravelguide #newyorkjets #whattodoinnewyorkcity #newyorkcitytravelguide #innewyork #thingstodoinnewyork #york #paris
Another TikTok user said she thought New York was bad with their common garbage pileups, but it didn’t even compare to what is happening in Paris right now.
“This time we obviously noticed a difference — that there’s trash piled up — but we also know why and we understand.” Returning American tourist, Daniel Gore
@erintridle 🚮🚮🚮 #paris #france #french #🇫🇷 #strike #retirement #metro #garbage #travel #traveling #traveler #traveltips
Lastly, another visitor posted filthy streets and inside knowledge of the ongoing strike.
She points out not only are waste management workers not reporting to their jobs, but also teachers and Metro workers are striking for the same reason.
This will affect tourists in how they are able to get around Paris, as some Metro lines are suspended.
What’s the Issue?
As of now, city trash collectors, as well as cleaners, have voted to extend their holdout until at least Monday, March 20th.
There is no official end date, however.
At this point, any traveler should know this could be going on for a while.
@btnewsroom One million protesters strong — the fiercest opposition to France’s pension reform plan yet. #FranceStrike #LaborStrike #FranceProtests #GeneralStrike #WorkersRights
Keeping a giant metropolis clean is a dirty job, no pun intended.
It is easy to see why workers have resulted to holding out on their duties when they could now be expected to work an extra 2 years before they can achieve their retirement goals.
If a new law is passed, the retirement age will be increased by 2 years.
Workers are also asking for an increase in pay to receive a higher pension. There are also health concerns given the fact garbage collectors are constantly breathing in fumes from the waste, truck exhaust, and working in every type of weather.
All of this is being taken into consideration. No immediate signs point to any changes being made, but France President Macron’s bill has received the votes needed to push forward despite nationwide protests.
