Toilet War : Les Dames Pipi Of Paris

Despite all the terrible injustices  going on the world, and there are many that have garnered my utmost empathy, I nevertheless also have sympathy for Les Dames Pipi of Paris losing their job.   These ladies, who the majority are over 60 years of age, were let go, not because they weren’t doing a good  job, but because of modernization and overt consumerism.

For well over a 100 years, les Dames Pipi, with their white uniforms have been a permanent fixture in public restrooms throughout the city.   Marginally salaried, they always had their saucers out on tables in hopes that appreciative clients would think highly enough of their premises to leave a tip.

Their job was to ensure cleanliness and order in the public restrooms, mostly around Paris’s famous monuments, such as Notre Dame, La Madeleine, Montmartre,  La Tour Eiffel, in addition to the train stations.

Because of the city’s new engagement with a Dutch organization, 2theloo, to be in charge of the toilets, these ladies were taken off the payroll July 1, 2015.  Since then they have been demonstrating daily in front of the public toilet at the foot of Sacre Cour, now closed for renovation.

Ruthlessly terminated, or as they described being “thrown away like mops”, these women have little recourse except to protest and have filed a suit against the decision. Some have been pushing mops and ensuring cleanliness of stalls for over 20 years!

It is hard enough to find jobs here for a lot of folks over 45, but at their age, the prospects are very grim, especially considering that they have no other experience except cleaning toilets.   2theloo, which for the linguistically uninformed, loo is a British term for toilet,  were not interested in keeping them on, saying that they didn’t have a “luxe” profile, and preferred to have attendants that speak “several languages”.

After all, this avant-garde company prides itself in offering its clients a “boutique toilet” experience.  Now you might be scratching your head perplexed like I did, trying to deduce what would constitute a “boutique” experience in relieving oneself.

Well, obviously I have little to no imagination when it comes to upscaling a bathroom experience, other than providing scrupulous cleaning.  2theloo thinks by putting in gayly decorated  walls and stalls, along with cleanliness, we will not only be absolutely thrilled at using their facilities, but long to return!

In fact they are so convinced you will love going to their “loo”, they are proposing little articles for sale to make your bathroom break  memorable, in hopes you will  bring home a souvenir of your visit. Just to sweeten the deal,  part of your entrance ticket to pee can be used as a voucher towards purchases in the “toilet boutique”.

A quick glance on their website left me shaking my head concerning the ludicrousness of such articles as toilet paper imprinted with the Eiffel Tower, Happy Birthday and hearts, amongst many other motifs.

Not to leave the kiddies out, there are even two stuffed dolls, one called Loois for little boys, and a oh so  cute Looisa, in pink of course.  Now instead of having to only ensure your wee one makes it to the potty on time and washes their hands afterwards, you probably will have to put up with  your toddler’s temper tantrums for not buying those adorable 2theloo stuffed dollies!

For those lonely tourists who just love to strike up conversations, or in need of a friendly ear to voice worldly concerns, well, I guess their multilingual assistants will be more than happy to accommodate while promoting the vast array of their must have trinkets and souvenirs.

I do wonder though, how this company plans on luring multilingual attendants, which having these cultural accoutrements, does at least indicate a modicum of education or enculturement,  to be bathroom assistants?

Now hiring:  Bathroom attendants for boutique toilets; Must be multilingual!

Even after your visit in the flesh, they are in hopes that you will be so thrilled and longing to return, that you will be drawn to buy from their online boutique for all your bathroom needs.  How about  a toilet seat with the Paris metro map, or a really silly mini golf set to put while sitting on the throne?

For the serious minded there are an array of ceramic toilets, lavatories  and accessories such as a 550 euro toilet brush for those in need of overtly displaying wealth in the toilet.

This 2theloo invasion onto the Parisian lavatory scene started in 2014, when the SNCF, which rules he French railway system, allowed them to take over bathrooms in train stations.  Whereas before you could relieve yourself for 50 centimes, which some thought downright indecent, the price has gone up to a scandalous 80 centimes.

For someone who has a very soft heart for all those who suffer injustices, I think it is pretty awful to ditch these loyal lavatory ladies without any real compensation for their many years work in a less than optimal workplace.

Although the mayor’s office said they requested  2the loo  to hire them, this company has avoided doing do.  The decision on the lawsuit has been postponed till the 8 th of September.

Considering the tough labor laws here, which generally favour employees rights, I find it bizarre that they could be let go so easily.

I was already upset to discover that the city had closed its most beautiful public restroom next to the Eglise Madeleine, that I use to drag visiting friends down to see its splendid Art Deco.  Saying it was no longer profitable enough to pay the salary of a Dame Pipi,  it closed in 2011.

Modernization of plumbing fixtures is fine,  but Paris has enough souvenir trinket stores crowding the sidewalks, without the ludicrousness of selling them in public toilets.

These ladies have devoted practically their entire career cleaning up afterwards Parisians and tourists alike.  Their presence has been a long standing cultural fixture and a part of the nostalgia, that sets Paris a part.

Their cruel dismissal, without compensations offered to other public employees, is not only scandalous, but reeks of discrimination.    If anybody deserves to be treated to a boutique experience, I would think it should be them!