SEATTLE -- Waste Management will resume pickup service for some residential customers on Wednesday, a company spokesperson said.
The company added it has hired an ample number of replacement drivers, some of them on a permanent basis. Spokeswoman Robin Freedman said Waste Management was taking its best candidates from a recent job fair and running recruitment ads.
Garbage truck drivers did not cross the picket lines and chose instead to strike in solidarity, which they are allowed to do under their contract.
The strike is affecting 217,000 customers in King and Snohomish counties, and the union extended picketing Tuesday to a Waste Management facility in Burlington.
The recycling and yard waste drivers had been working without a contract since the end of May. The two sides began negotiating in June, but talks crumbled when the union rejected Waste Management's "last, best and final offer."
As the strike continues on, tensions are mounting for customers and strikers alike.
"It's sad to see overfilled bins. It's, to me and everybody else, disgusting and pretty smelly," said lead recycle driver Andy Young.
In that six-year proposal, the company offered an average annual salary between $58,000 and $68,000. If benefits are included, the offer is worth $98,000 a year to a driver at the end of the sixth year, the company said.
Waste Management said it would resume negotiations once workers abort the strike, but union members said they will not return to work until they are presented with an acceptable offer.
"Well, we want our drivers to come back, but today we have made the decision to hire permanent replacement drivers. We have an obligation to service our communities," Freedman said.
The replacement drivers hired by Waste Management have been focusing on commercial customers like restaurants.
Residential customers in Algona, Auburn, Bothell, Federal Way, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mill Creek, Redmond, Renton and Seattle who are normally serviced on Wednesdays will have their garbage picked up on Wednesday. Waste Management also urged customers to check its website for the latest update.
The news came the same day Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn ordered Seattle Public Utilities to open garbage transfer stations to the public at no charge.
Transfer stations will be open to single-family residents in Waste Management's service areas whose trash and recyclables have been piling up as a result of the drivers' week-long strike.
Residents may drop off up to six bags of trash for free at both north and south transfer stations, which are open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.
McGinn said the city is investigating Waste Management for potential violations of its service agreement, and may fine the company up to $1.25 million for each day of missed service.
"Every penny that we collect from Waste Management in fines will be returned to our customers as reductions to their bill," he said in a released statement.
The north transfer station is located at 1350 N. 34th St., and the south station can be found at 8105 Fifth Ave. S. Customers are urged to drop off trash before 2 p.m. to avoid lines. Identification is required to verify residency.
Both stations are equipped with live web cams that show the wait line:
View north station web cam >>>
View south station web cam >>>
The company added it has hired an ample number of replacement drivers, some of them on a permanent basis. Spokeswoman Robin Freedman said Waste Management was taking its best candidates from a recent job fair and running recruitment ads.
Garbage truck drivers did not cross the picket lines and chose instead to strike in solidarity, which they are allowed to do under their contract.
The strike is affecting 217,000 customers in King and Snohomish counties, and the union extended picketing Tuesday to a Waste Management facility in Burlington.
The recycling and yard waste drivers had been working without a contract since the end of May. The two sides began negotiating in June, but talks crumbled when the union rejected Waste Management's "last, best and final offer."
As the strike continues on, tensions are mounting for customers and strikers alike.
"It's sad to see overfilled bins. It's, to me and everybody else, disgusting and pretty smelly," said lead recycle driver Andy Young.
In that six-year proposal, the company offered an average annual salary between $58,000 and $68,000. If benefits are included, the offer is worth $98,000 a year to a driver at the end of the sixth year, the company said.
Waste Management said it would resume negotiations once workers abort the strike, but union members said they will not return to work until they are presented with an acceptable offer.
"Well, we want our drivers to come back, but today we have made the decision to hire permanent replacement drivers. We have an obligation to service our communities," Freedman said.
The replacement drivers hired by Waste Management have been focusing on commercial customers like restaurants.
Residential customers in Algona, Auburn, Bothell, Federal Way, Kirkland, Maple Valley, Mill Creek, Redmond, Renton and Seattle who are normally serviced on Wednesdays will have their garbage picked up on Wednesday. Waste Management also urged customers to check its website for the latest update.
The news came the same day Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn ordered Seattle Public Utilities to open garbage transfer stations to the public at no charge.
Transfer stations will be open to single-family residents in Waste Management's service areas whose trash and recyclables have been piling up as a result of the drivers' week-long strike.
Residents may drop off up to six bags of trash for free at both north and south transfer stations, which are open from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week.
McGinn said the city is investigating Waste Management for potential violations of its service agreement, and may fine the company up to $1.25 million for each day of missed service.
"Every penny that we collect from Waste Management in fines will be returned to our customers as reductions to their bill," he said in a released statement.
The north transfer station is located at 1350 N. 34th St., and the south station can be found at 8105 Fifth Ave. S. Customers are urged to drop off trash before 2 p.m. to avoid lines. Identification is required to verify residency.
Both stations are equipped with live web cams that show the wait line:
View north station web cam >>>
View south station web cam >>>