No agreement yet between Waste Management, unions
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SEATTLE -- Recycle and yard waste haulers for Waste Management voted to strike earlier this month. They're still on the job, but many residents are wondering how long that will last.
Push may be coming to shove as union and management engage in trash talk. Today, the garbage trucks continued to roll, as did the recycling and yard waste trucks.
Waste Management insists its business is always picking up and it's going to stay that way.
"The priority is to provide service to the communities," said Robin Freedman of Waste Management.
The union isn't commenting, but on its website the local 117 accuses Waste Management of preparing for a lockout. The union says the company is bringing in drivers from out of state and planning a job fair this weekend.
Waste Management officials admit they have contingency plans.
"If there is a labor disruption we will start to trigger parts of our contingency plan," Freedman said.
There are two different locals of the Teamsters in the pick-up business. The garbage drivers have a contract. The recyclers and yard waste people don't, and they want the same pay as the other drivers.
Union leaders representing the recycling and yard waste drivers were in a closed door meeting on Friday, and they could make an announcement as early as Saturday morning.
Push may be coming to shove as union and management engage in trash talk. Today, the garbage trucks continued to roll, as did the recycling and yard waste trucks.
Waste Management insists its business is always picking up and it's going to stay that way.
"The priority is to provide service to the communities," said Robin Freedman of Waste Management.
The union isn't commenting, but on its website the local 117 accuses Waste Management of preparing for a lockout. The union says the company is bringing in drivers from out of state and planning a job fair this weekend.
Waste Management officials admit they have contingency plans.
"If there is a labor disruption we will start to trigger parts of our contingency plan," Freedman said.
There are two different locals of the Teamsters in the pick-up business. The garbage drivers have a contract. The recyclers and yard waste people don't, and they want the same pay as the other drivers.
Union leaders representing the recycling and yard waste drivers were in a closed door meeting on Friday, and they could make an announcement as early as Saturday morning.
