France: Strike blocks Europe's largest food market

(Baonghean.vn) - On June 9, French trade unions went on strike, blocking the road to Rungis, Europe's largest wholesale food market, one day before the Euro 2016 finals officially began.

Strikers block the road to the town of Rungis - a famous food market in Europe. Photo: AFP

A day before the opening of Europe's biggest football tournament - Euro 2016 - in France, union members of the CGT - the oldest union in France - continued to strike in an effort to protest a labor reform carried out by the government.

The strike entered its ninth consecutive day after garbage collectors expressed dissatisfaction, refusing to clean up bags piled up on the streets in several major cities, including the capital Paris.

During the strike on June 9, which the French Sports Minister called a “military guerrilla war,” protesters blocked access to the town of Rungis, a famous French food wholesale location, for several hours.

The town of Rungis covers 234 hectares and is home to 1,200 companies and food suppliers with 12,000 employees. 2.8 million tons of food are traded here annually, with a turnover of nearly 9 billion euros in 2015.

"We came here to show that the CGT is everywhere and we deserve better treatment from the French government," said union member Nicolas Buatois.

It is not yet known whether the protests will lead to any food shortages in the capital Paris, especially as Euro 2016 approaches.

Thanh Hien

(According to Telegraph)