Waste Management strike halts pickups for second day

Waste Management says a strike by recycling and yard waste
haulers will prevent pickups for a second straight day.
Workers set up picket lines in King and Snohomish Counties
Wednesday after months of contract talks failed to produce
an agreement.

Contract requests from Teamsters Local 117 include higher
pay to match garbage drivers, who reportedly earn $9 more
per hour than recycling drivers.

The union says the company is trying to unilaterally
change working conditions, is threatening to retaliate
against workers, and is bargaining in bad-faith.

“Waste Management has forced this labor dispute through
its blatant disregard of U.S. law,” said Local 117
Secretary-Treasurer, Tracey A. Thompson, in a news
release. “Now they are on the verge of provoking a public
health crisis. Waste Management needs to realize that this
community will not sit idly by while they put our families
at risk.”

The 153 recycle and yard waste drivers have been working
without a contract since May 31. Replacement drivers have
been ready to take over since a strike vote was taken June
2.

“They are not bargaining in good faith. They are not
returning to the table and it’s time that we take action
to get them to return to the table and bargain in good
faith,” said curbside yard waste driver Brent Barrett on
the picket line.

“We’re deeply dismayed that this is the choice that the
union leadership took. It was an unnecessary,
disappointing move,” company spokeswoman Robin Freedman
said.

Waste Management says if your area isn’t on this list, assume your regular collection
schedule.

You can call 1-800-230-7418 to report recycle, yard waste,
and garbage service disruptions and visit www.seattletrashwatch.org for updates and
information.