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Rio rubbish collectors continue strike despite union deal | Rio rubbish collectors continue strike despite union deal |
(35 minutes later) | |
Rubbish is still piling up in Rio de Janeiro as the Brazilian city's street cleaners continue a strike, despite an announced agreement with the union. | Rubbish is still piling up in Rio de Janeiro as the Brazilian city's street cleaners continue a strike, despite an announced agreement with the union. |
Hundreds of refuse workers protested at the mayor's office on Friday demanding better pay and working conditions. | Hundreds of refuse workers protested at the mayor's office on Friday demanding better pay and working conditions. |
Authorities said on Monday that they had reached an agreement with union leaders and expected normal collection to be resumed within days. | Authorities said on Monday that they had reached an agreement with union leaders and expected normal collection to be resumed within days. |
But many workers say the union is not representing their interests. | But many workers say the union is not representing their interests. |
The president of Rio's rubbish collecting company, Comlurb, has even appealed to the population to store rubbish at home whenever possible, the BBC's Julia Carneiro reports from Rio. | The president of Rio's rubbish collecting company, Comlurb, has even appealed to the population to store rubbish at home whenever possible, the BBC's Julia Carneiro reports from Rio. |
Friday's protests stopped the traffic in central Rio, despite threats from the authorities to fire those who did not show up to work. | Friday's protests stopped the traffic in central Rio, despite threats from the authorities to fire those who did not show up to work. |
'Treated like rubbish' | 'Treated like rubbish' |
On Monday, municipal authorities said they had sealed a deal with leaders of the 15,000 rubbish collectors after offering a salary raise of 9%. | On Monday, municipal authorities said they had sealed a deal with leaders of the 15,000 rubbish collectors after offering a salary raise of 9%. |
But a group of street cleaners – whose starting monthly salary is 803 reais ($342; £205) – is demanding a pay of 1,200 reais ($510; £306) and other benefits. | But a group of street cleaners – whose starting monthly salary is 803 reais ($342; £205) – is demanding a pay of 1,200 reais ($510; £306) and other benefits. |
They say they are being "being treated like rubbish" and threaten to cause further disruptions during the football World Cup, due to start on 12 June. | They say they are being "being treated like rubbish" and threaten to cause further disruptions during the football World Cup, due to start on 12 June. |
"The mayor wants to hold the World Cup, bin men want to go shopping," read some of their banners on Friday. | "The mayor wants to hold the World Cup, bin men want to go shopping," read some of their banners on Friday. |
The strikers say more than half of the workforce are still with them and vowed to stage fresh demonstrations over the weekend. | The strikers say more than half of the workforce are still with them and vowed to stage fresh demonstrations over the weekend. |
But the street cleaners' union says the strikers are a minority. | But the street cleaners' union says the strikers are a minority. |
In some parts of the city, groups of rubbish collectors have started to clean up the rubbish left by this year's carnival festivities, which ended on Wednesday. | In some parts of the city, groups of rubbish collectors have started to clean up the rubbish left by this year's carnival festivities, which ended on Wednesday. |
Security officers have been deployed to protect the workers from their striking colleagues, authorities say. | |
Tonnes of rubbish left after many street parties and by samba schools and beach goers were left piling up in the city for days. | Tonnes of rubbish left after many street parties and by samba schools and beach goers were left piling up in the city for days. |
The BBC's Julia Carneiro says the local culture of littering the streets makes matters worse. | The BBC's Julia Carneiro says the local culture of littering the streets makes matters worse. |
Even Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, was caught on video allegedly throwing rubbish on the street. | Even Rio's mayor, Eduardo Paes, was caught on video allegedly throwing rubbish on the street. |
Mr Paes said he did not remember the event, but nevertheless asked the authorities to fine him to serve as an example. | Mr Paes said he did not remember the event, but nevertheless asked the authorities to fine him to serve as an example. |
Last year, his government announced a "zero tolerance" policy towards street littering. | Last year, his government announced a "zero tolerance" policy towards street littering. |