Bones And Bras Strew The Streets Of Madrid As Garbage Collectors Strike

Madrid's garbage collectors have been on strike all week — and they are creating quite the stink.

Madrid's 6,000 street sweepers and garbage collectors in public parks are on strike to protest layoffs and pay cuts. The strike started after private companies contracted by the city announced plans to cut salaries by 40 percent and to lay of more than 1,000 workers.

In #Madrid, rubbish collection strike 1 week and going strong. Unions reject jobs losses/pay cuts #Spain

Barnaby Phillips

@BarnabyPhillips

In #Madrid, rubbish collection strike 1 week and going strong. Unions reject jobs losses/pay cuts #Spain

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The Guardian's Spain correspondent has been reporting the story — via the pig leg dumped on his doorstep.

I support the right of Madrid street cleaners to strike so I am trying to be okay that is a pig's leg on my doorstep

Paul Hamilos

@PaulHamilos

I support the right of Madrid street cleaners to strike so I am trying to be okay that is a pig's leg on my doorstep

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Day 6 of Madrid street cleaners' strike and the pig's leg in my road has moved again and attached itself to a bra

Paul Hamilos

@PaulHamilos

Day 6 of Madrid street cleaners' strike and the pig's leg in my road has moved again and attached itself to a bra

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Day 7 of Madrid street cleaners' strike. Rotting pig's leg and bra are now enjoying the autumn sun. They seem happy

Paul Hamilos

@PaulHamilos

Day 7 of Madrid street cleaners' strike. Rotting pig's leg and bra are now enjoying the autumn sun. They seem happy

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Others are less impressed.

This is not art.

This charming statue has suddenly become a little bit political. #madrid

James Blick

@jamesblick78

This charming statue has suddenly become a little bit political. #madrid

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"There are places you can't walk because of the trash. The garbage strike continues in Madrid."

"Hay sitios en los que no se puede caminar por la basura" http://t.co/AnITGpskx7 Sigue la huelga de limpieza a Madrid

EL PAIS

@el_pais

"Hay sitios en los que no se puede caminar por la basura" http://t.co/AnITGpskx7 Sigue la huelga de limpieza a Madrid

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Las calles de #Madrid llevan una semana llenas de basura y muchos organismos pྫlicos desde la dictadura #franquista

Manel Márquez

@manelmarquez

Las calles de #Madrid llevan una semana llenas de basura y muchos organismos pྫlicos desde la dictadura #franquista

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At least the colors are nice?

Union leaders say they are not taking back to the streets soon.

“The strike is indefinite, we’re not going to sign an agreement that pushes some of us into poverty and the rest into unemployment,” a union leader told Bloomberg Businessweek.

The average salary of the effected workers ranges from 900 to 1,300 euros ($1,205 to 1,740 USD).

Some in Madrid, though, don't seem to mind the rodents.

Isabel Vicente

@isabelmvi

Por #madrid

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@peterwalker99 I'll let you know when the rats take over the city. [Dear rats, if you're reading this, I welcome you as our new overlords]

Paul Hamilos

@PaulHamilos

@peterwalker99 I'll let you know when the rats take over the city. [Dear rats, if you're reading this, I welcome you as our new overlords]

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