Lisbon is currently facing a waste crisis as waste collection workers are on strike for better conditions. The strike organized by the Municipal Workers Union of Lisbon and the Local Administration Workers Union has resulted in piles of uncollected rubbish across the city during the busy festive season. Residents have taken to social media to criticize Mayor Carlos Moedas for mishandling the city’s waste management. The Mayor’s office has acknowledged the challenges faced due to the strike, with union estimates suggesting an 80% participation rate. Efforts to collect waste have fallen behind, leading to the accumulation of more trash.
To address the situation, the council has placed 57 additional bins for organic and recyclable waste across Lisbon. However, these measures are seen as temporary, and residents are urged to avoid leaving unnecessary rubbish on the streets. The unions have announced plans for a full strike on December 26 and 27, an overtime ban over the Christmas to New Year period, and a strike from January 1 to 2. The STML has criticized the council for not fulfilling commitments from a June 2023 agreement and outsourcing cleaning services to private companies, calling it unacceptable.
The union has accused the administration of failing to properly organize its workforce and address real problems in urban cleaning. Moutinho, from Lisbon City Council, has acknowledged delays in meeting some demands but assured that progress is underway. He stated that none of the commitments have been forgotten or abandoned and that the agreement would be fully implemented. The strike has brought attention to the challenges faced by waste collection workers in Lisbon and the need for improved working conditions and proper facilities.
As the waste collection workers’ strike continues in Lisbon, piles of trash have accumulated across the city, leading to a waste crisis during the festive season. Residents have criticized the Mayor for mishandling waste management, while the council has acknowledged the difficulty faced due to the strike. Efforts to collect waste have been hampered, prompting the placement of additional bins and urging residents not to leave unnecessary rubbish on the streets. The unions have called for further strike action, citing unfulfilled commitments and outsourcing of cleaning services to private companies.
The strike by waste collection workers in Lisbon has highlighted the challenges faced by workers in the sector, with demands for better conditions and facilities. The union has criticized the council for failing to address real issues in urban cleaning and organize its workforce effectively. While the council has acknowledged delays in meeting demands, they have assured that progress is underway and all commitments will be fulfilled. The strike has underlined the importance of improving working conditions for waste collection workers and addressing the root problems in waste management in Lisbon.
In response to the waste collection workers’ strike in Lisbon, the council has taken temporary measures to address the growing waste crisis in the city, including placing additional bins for organic and recyclable waste. However, the unions have called for further strike action, citing unmet commitments and outsourcing of cleaning services. The strike has shed light on the challenges faced by waste collection workers and the need for improved working conditions and facilities. The council has acknowledged delays in meeting demands but assured that progress is being made and all commitments will be fulfilled, emphasizing the importance of addressing real issues in urban cleaning.
