Seattle customers to get refund from garbage strike
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SEATTLE -- A July garbage strike left nearly 100,000 Seattle residents to deal with piles of stinky trash, but a recent settlement between the city and Waste Management means those customers will soon see a refund.
The settlement checks in at $1.2 million, with all the money going to customers.
"(We said) if you don't collect, there are going to be fines," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. "So that's what we did."
Nearly two months after the garbage strike ended, the fines are now beginning. The city says it's fair settlement, though some home and business owners might want to see more money.
Each affected household will get a $10 credit for the days of missed pickups. Condos, apartments and businesses will receive a $50 credit, with the refund appearing on the November/December billing statement.
"The rebate we're going to give may not compensate you for the inconvenience that was caused," McGinn said.
Seattle Public Utilities has 90,000 customers serviced by Waste Management who will get refunds in northwest and south Seattle.
Other cities, including Kirkland and Federal Way, have an additional 100,000 customers with the company. It's unclear if possible settlements will happen there.
Nearly a quarter million homes and businesses were affected by the stoppage when more than 150 union drivers who operate recycling trucks walked off the job. Those drivers were soon supported on the picket line by garbage truck drivers who had already signed a new contract with Waste Management earlier in the year.
During the height of the walkout, SPU warned Waste Management the fines would reach $1.25 million per day if Seattle customers had their trash and recycling stacking up along the curb.
McGinn said this fine should send a message to companies down the road.
"These fines are here for a reason," he said. "We want people to collect the garbage. The idea that we would waive (the fines) because you settled and we didn't really mean it was not appropriate. They should pay the fines."
Only Waste Management customers covered by Seattle Public Utilities who didn't get their garbage picked up will see the rebate on their next statement.
Towns outside of Seattle and those serviced by Clean Scapes are not part of the settlement.
The settlement checks in at $1.2 million, with all the money going to customers.
"(We said) if you don't collect, there are going to be fines," said Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn. "So that's what we did."
Nearly two months after the garbage strike ended, the fines are now beginning. The city says it's fair settlement, though some home and business owners might want to see more money.
Each affected household will get a $10 credit for the days of missed pickups. Condos, apartments and businesses will receive a $50 credit, with the refund appearing on the November/December billing statement.
"The rebate we're going to give may not compensate you for the inconvenience that was caused," McGinn said.
Seattle Public Utilities has 90,000 customers serviced by Waste Management who will get refunds in northwest and south Seattle.
Other cities, including Kirkland and Federal Way, have an additional 100,000 customers with the company. It's unclear if possible settlements will happen there.
Nearly a quarter million homes and businesses were affected by the stoppage when more than 150 union drivers who operate recycling trucks walked off the job. Those drivers were soon supported on the picket line by garbage truck drivers who had already signed a new contract with Waste Management earlier in the year.
During the height of the walkout, SPU warned Waste Management the fines would reach $1.25 million per day if Seattle customers had their trash and recycling stacking up along the curb.
McGinn said this fine should send a message to companies down the road.
"These fines are here for a reason," he said. "We want people to collect the garbage. The idea that we would waive (the fines) because you settled and we didn't really mean it was not appropriate. They should pay the fines."
Only Waste Management customers covered by Seattle Public Utilities who didn't get their garbage picked up will see the rebate on their next statement.
Towns outside of Seattle and those serviced by Clean Scapes are not part of the settlement.
Question: Were the customers still charged for service during the time that they did not receive pick up because of the strike?
What's to keep them from sneaking that fine into your bill at some point?
 @slappywag The rates they charge you are also contracted. They can't sneak the fines back in because it's not in the contract that they can do this.
How about we make the people who walked off thier jobs pay this. The beef was with the recycle drives and the trash drivers walked of just because the wanted too.
I forget if I was missed. I hope I get my 10 dollars though.Â
$10.00, Wow!!!! Thank you. I was expecting nothing. Now i can go buy a cup of coffee.
and a dounut.
I was missed two times. .They don't have to pay me in cash, What is I want is three cases of Cup O noodles. And I will call us even. ( half chicken and half roast beef) flavor
Try not paying a utility, like Pierce County water or sewer. They'll put a lien on your property and you'll have to pay to get it removed. They don't do their service, suck it up. One-way deal. You pay for monopolies, and they can do what they want, but if you miss a payment, you're in hot water.
And what about the rest of us? Up in Snohomish county, we waited 2 weeks as well for pickups to start, I even called WM and requested a refund...and was told NO ONE would be getting refunds...now Seattle will, but we won't...I wish we had options, but the driving forces of government continue to allow monopolies by companies like WM so that no competition can even consider getting some of these contracts. We have 200+ homes in our direct area that would likely vote to allow other services, but we've been told NO...only WM can contract in our area.
 @takncarabizniz Not only that, but Seattle residents were also to take their trash and recycling to the local waste station for free. We, in Snohomish County, had to pay the normal fees if we used the waste station.
 @takncarabizniz Well, the first missed pick-up I called and cancelled my service with WM. Later, they insisted that I still owed them around $20. I told them it cost me that much to haul my own garbage to the transfer station, so we were even. They wouldn't budge.
I asked them the name of their local CEO because I would need it for the small claims suit I intended to file. They capitulated and made it a zero balance.
Whine to your local municipalities.  When you elect people who support self regulation, you get no recourse. Why only 1 days worth of fines? They should be hit with the full amount.  If waste service is required, pick-up should be also.
What about Snohomish, Not fair!!!! My garbage sat around just as long as Seattle's All Waste Management's customers should get that refund.Â
 @pandora Complain to Snohomish! That's who signed the contract with Waste Management!!!
Why ONLY Seattle customers? What about the other customers who had to deal with this poop also?Â
.....and in a related story:Â http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2019251519_solidwastefee25m.html
What about Mill Creek? I'm thinking about taking $10 off my next payment just to see what happens.
 @Brewin4u WM will just bill you that missing $10 on the next bill, and put a late fee on it for not paying it in full. Is that worth it?
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I drive my garbage to the local transfer station, during their strike. Is WM going to reimburse me the $20? Not!
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