Dive Summary:
- The Washington state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) commission has opened an investigation of Waste Management's response to the strike.
- As part of the investigation, it has invited members of the public to comment on the strike.
- The 8 day strike between Teamsters Local 117 and Waste Management caused significant service disruptions in the Seattle area.
- Read previous coverage of the strike.
From the release:
Customers of Waste Management of Washington, Inc., will be able to comment to state regulators at a public meeting Thursday on the impacts of the company’s recent labor dispute on solid waste and recycling collection services.
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) will hear a presentation from the company regarding their strike response strategy at 4 p.m. and will take comments from customers at 5 p.m. on August 9, in the Woodinville City Council Chambers, 17301 133rd Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072.
The commission has opened an investigation of Waste Management’s implementation of its contingency plan during this labor dispute and the impacts on its regulated customers due to the company’s inability to provide solid waste, recycling and yard waste collection services.
The commission has received 51 inquiries from Waste Management’s customers regarding service during the strike. Customers who would like to comment on this issue are encouraged to write the UTC at: P.O. Box 47250 Olympia, Wash. 98504, submit comments online at www.utc.wa.gov/comment, e-mail comments to comment@utc.wa.gov or call toll-free 1-888-333-9882.
The UTC regulates Waste Management of Washington Inc.’s residential and commercial garbage and residential recycling and yard waste service in King, Skagit, and Snohomish counties, except within the following cities: Algona, Arlington, Auburn, Bothell, Burien, Burlington, Carnation, Concrete, Darrington, Duvall, Federal Way, Granite Falls, Issaquah, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Marysville, Mill Creek, Monroe, Mountlake Terrace, Redmond, Renton, Sammamish, Seattle, Sedro Wooley, and Stanwood. Customers living in Anacortes, Kent or Mt. Vernon can call the commission at 1-888-333-WUTC (9882) to determine if their service is regulated.
The UTC regulates the rates and services of privately owned solid waste and recycling companies. Please visit www.utc.wa.gov/solidwaste for more information.
