Molenbeek streets not being cleaned for the next week

Street cleaning in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean will not take place until Thursday 19 September at the earliest following the issuance of a strike notice by staff.

Molenbeek's public cleaning staff will not be working during this period, unions said, citing what they described as deplorable working conditions in the neighbourhood that authorities have repeatedly failed to address.

“That is why the employees decided at a general meeting of staff to stop work until their demands are heard,” the unions said in a joint statement.

The municipality of more than 100,000 inhabitants has just 32 active road sweepers, and unions say their vehicles regularly break down, reliable equipment is scant and the increasing number of cases related to littering or illegal dumping are only worsening an already unbearable workload.

“The staff are exhausted and are no longer able to carry out their duties because of the excessive workload,” the unions added, noting that workers have already had to dispose of more than 28,000 tonnes of waste since the beginning of the year.

The unions are demanding that staff be upgraded, that the workforce be expanded and that working hours be reduced for the over-55s, while maintaining salaries.

They are also demanding zero tolerance for the assaults and disrespectful attitudes to which they say they are subjected throughout the course of the workday.

The unions added that if authorities did not take action, they may extend the strike and other municipal services may also join the action.