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Letters: Bin collection fees have soared in France - for fewer pick-ups
Readers say the fees mean putting the rubbish out only once every six weeks
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'Real French treasures are now hard to find at flea markets'
Columnist Peter Wyeth laments that traditional vide-greniers are increasingly filled with flimsy plastic objects
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'French healthcare is baffling and complex... but it works'
Columnist Nick Inman recently had the misfortune to be ill, but the fortune, as he sees it, for this to happen in France
Strike back over strikes
SNCF and air traffic controllers strike at will with government seemingly unable to prevent chaos despite only 8% of employees belonging to unions.
It is about time unions were legally obliged to pay consequential loss to all customers who have suffered from their random actions. ‘Grève’ would soon become an archaic word.
Much is written about the UK €40billion+ divorce settlement to the EU but, to put things into perspective, SNCF debt stands at €45bn+ (It is similar at UK National Rail).
Time to stop all the perks for pensioners, families and overseas rail employees, tighten financial control and reintroduce customer service which was once a hallmark of SNCF (and former British Rail).
Franklyn Jackson, by email