Dive Summary:
- After months of tense labor negotiations, 153 Waste Management recycling and yard waste drivers from Teamsters Local 117 went on strike Wednesday afternoon. The workers have been without contract since May 31st.
- In calling for the strike, union leaders have accused Waste Management of violating national labor laws by direct dealing with employees, threatening workers, and changing working conditions.
- The key point of contention has been the disparity between waste and recycling haulers. Union leaders say new contract offer for recycling haulers leaves them significantly behind wages paid to waste haulers.
- Waste Management indicates that their last contract offer was for 4% raises per year with a $2,000 bonus per union member to ratify contract. At end of contract, average total compensation would be $98,000 per member. Union refuses to vote on measure.
From the article:
Recycling and yard waste drivers for Waste Management went on strike Wednesday morning, accusing the company of bargaining in bad faith during ongoing contract negotiations.
Picket lines went up at 10 a.m. as drivers in King and Snohomish counties went on strike. The action by Teamsters Local 117 is expected to disrupt services to area residents; the extent of that disruption was not immediately clear.
In a statement, Teamsters leaders faulted Waste Management for what they described as violations of federal labor law. They claim the company has been coercing and direct dealing with its employees, threatening workers and unilaterally changing working conditions.
