UPDATE - Garbage collectors in Paris extend walkout to March 20

CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK ADDS DETAILS

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – Garbage collectors in Paris decided to extend their walkout Tuesday to March 20, according to media reports.

The workers decided to extend their strike for the second time, broadcaster CNEWS reported, citing trade unions.

Trash workers walked out March 6 to protest the government's pension reform plan and decided to extend the strike, which caused more than 5,000 tons of garbage to rot on the streets with rats rummaging through the piles of garbage, according to the Le Figaro newspaper.

The nation’s transport minister earlier criticized Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo for "doing nothing" as trash piled up in the capital.

"The capital has become a giant open-air trash," Clement Beaune told broadcaster France 2, while citing a risk to public health.

"I have respect for the garbage collectors' walkout," he said. "But when someone is responsible for a big city, and the capital in particular, they also have the responsibility to act."

The country saw nationwide demonstrations and walkouts last week, with millions protesting the government’s pension reform plan.

Workers and unions held demonstrations for a sixth and seventh time since January -- on March 7 and 11 -- and walkouts were extended to this week in some sectors, including railway transportation, oil refineries and garbage collection.