The streets are filled with piles of rubbish due to the strike of the cleaning workers in the Netherlands

As a result of the strike, the overflow of garbage cans was observed in many streets and squares of the capital, while the inhabitants of the city complained about this situation.

Some Amsterdam residents hung warning signs at garbage collection sites, stating that garbage will not be collected from February 20 to 27, asking people not to litter outdoors for a week.

Leonardo Silva, 35, who lives in Amsterdam, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that he was having difficulty walking on the sidewalk with his dog because of the pile of uncollected rubbish.

Noting that this situation could pose a health threat, Silva said: “There used to be places where it looked dirty because of garbage, but the situation this week is exceptional. It is a very worrying situation for the people who live here.” saying.

Cafe manager Nicholas Giddings said people were having difficulty walking due to the pile of rubbish on the sidewalk and they were looking for a way to solve this problem on their own.

In a written statement made by the Municipality of Amsterdam, it was stated that there will be no garbage collection from February 20 to 27 and residents of the city were asked to collect their garbage at their homes.

In the statement, municipal official Hester van Buren said: “I understand the reason for the strike. The prices of food and other things have increased. We hope to sit down with the union soon and agree on a better collective agreement.” words were included.

Kadir Cakirlar, who works cleaning jobs at the Amsterdam Municipality, recalled that the bus drivers had gone on strike in the previous weeks, but could not get the raise they wanted, and drew attention to the fact that that the current strike may not achieve its purpose.

The union considers that the rate of increase is insufficient

In the statement made by the Dutch Confederation of Trade Unions (FNV) regarding the strike, the municipality’s 5 percent increase, effective February 1, 2023, and 3 percent, effective April 1, 2024, remained well below the rate of inflation. and 12 percent by 2023. Increase requested.

Emphasizing that the workload must be eased and working conditions improved in the new collective agreement, the statement stressed that the strike of cleaning workers continues in the cities of Amsterdam, Leiden, Den Bosch and Maastricht, and that the workers of cleanup in the cities of Utrecht in the first week of February and Rotterdam in the second and third week will go on strike for a week. (AA)