State investigating Waste Management's actions during strike
»Play Video
SEATTLE -- The unsightly and smelly mess left from an eight-day strike against Waste management is mostly cleaned up, but some customers were still waiting for pickups on Thursday.
On Thursday evening, some of those fed-up customers spoke their minds to the state commission that's formally investigating how the company handled the strike.
"The frustration that I would be charged for all these weeks that my garbage is not being picked up when I've already paid my garbage in advance really ticked me off. And she said, 'Well that's the way the cookie crumbles,'" said customer Donna Kerns.
The strike by more than 150 union drivers left trash and yard waste piling up in both cities and urban areas. During the strike, Waste Management went to its contingency plan -- bringing in replacement drivers -- but many pickups were still missed.
At Thursday's meeting, commissioners asked if Waste management put contract cities before rural customers.
"We're going to literally focus on critical accounts," said Waste Management's Rob Sherman. "We didn't look at the difference between a contract city or a UTC during that time period."
The UTC's investigation also revolves around the replacement drivers Waste Management used. Investigators want to be sure each was properly licensed and followed all safety inspections and regulations.
The state can penalize Waste Management if it finds fault with the company's actions during the strike. Any number of cities can do the same, and Seattle officials say they're still tabulating the fine against the company.
On Thursday evening, some of those fed-up customers spoke their minds to the state commission that's formally investigating how the company handled the strike.
"The frustration that I would be charged for all these weeks that my garbage is not being picked up when I've already paid my garbage in advance really ticked me off. And she said, 'Well that's the way the cookie crumbles,'" said customer Donna Kerns.
The strike by more than 150 union drivers left trash and yard waste piling up in both cities and urban areas. During the strike, Waste Management went to its contingency plan -- bringing in replacement drivers -- but many pickups were still missed.
At Thursday's meeting, commissioners asked if Waste management put contract cities before rural customers.
"We're going to literally focus on critical accounts," said Waste Management's Rob Sherman. "We didn't look at the difference between a contract city or a UTC during that time period."
The UTC's investigation also revolves around the replacement drivers Waste Management used. Investigators want to be sure each was properly licensed and followed all safety inspections and regulations.
The state can penalize Waste Management if it finds fault with the company's actions during the strike. Any number of cities can do the same, and Seattle officials say they're still tabulating the fine against the company.
Why should I have to pay for this STRIKE that wasn't even for them...it was for someone else!!! They chose to support it...whatever support it on your own time!! You didn't want replacement drivers to help clean up the mess you were leaving behind...well I DON"T WANT TO PAY FOR YOUR SUPPORTING SOMEONE ELSE!!! I just want you to do your job. If you choose to strike for your own contract that is one story but it was for someone else and now I might have to pay for it!! I don't think so that is completely unfair and WRONG! I can't just chose to up and move to a place that will allow me to cancel my service with you and haul my own garbage cause guess what otherwise that is what would have already happened...it is already insanley expensive and I have already been overcharged for imaginary extra bags...This whole ordeal is a joke...I wish they could fire everyone who stood on that line and make you really understand what its like to find money to survive!!
I was at the UTC meeting last night, and currently the only exceptions that Waste Management has for skipping collection is bad weather or road conditions. They now want to add language stating they can skip collections due to labor disruptions, and not incur any penalties. Everyone should contact the UTC at www.utc.wa.gov, and urge them to not change the tariff language. As it is, Waste Management has a monopoly in with King and Snohomish counties, and now they want to write the rules of operation as well. They not only want the tariff language changed, but want to make it retroactive to their current agreements. To me this just shows they know they could be penalized, and are trying to eliminate that threat.
 @cruzinwa I'll write the UTC and tell them that the union has a monopoly on labor and should be penalized along with WM who has a monopoly.
 @cruzinwa I used your link to suggest that any garbage service be required to refund double for the first missed pick-up, triple for the next and so on.
They still have not picked up the Recycle cans from last week in my neighborhood.
 @rweiss71:Â
Report them to the utilities/transportation commission as well as to your city/municipality
i generate very little actual "garbage " anymore - between recycling and the yard waste/food scrap bin i barely fill my garbage can half way.
Â
can anyone tell me why i am required to pay for pick up (king co) when i don't need it and could deal with my stuff easily without them?
 @swampthing:Â
You may not have to - it all depends on the laws in your "municipality". You should go to your city's website, see what the rules actually require.
 @SwampThing Yes. Unions are greedy and want your money.
Personally, I think any fines and penalties should be levied against the union since they are the ones who chose to walk off the job.Â
@The WA Mama: Absolutely not. WM admitted they were unprepared for a strike ("but they had never struck before..."). Any company that has a union that they have to negotiate wages & working conditions with shuld be prepared for the worst, including how they will continue business in the event of a strike. WM dropped the ball & screwed up royally.
I'd be in favor of making this  a right to work state.  That'd put a bunch of these unions out of business.
@JoeKing How about you move to a right to work state!
 @Too funny!  @JoeKing If you don't like low wages in a low skill job, why don't you pay attention in class. A basic education is free Don't blame other people because you failed to take advantage of opportunities when they are given to you for free.
@JoeKing Let me guess, are you sitting in an office hight above the waste? Get a real job like the rest of us!
 @SunLover  @JoeKing don't be jealous that some people paid attention in class while you didn't.Â
BS.....bully tactics by a union controlled state. Organized crime runs Olympia and King County........
Sounds like the union members didn't get what they wanted out of the strike. So they turned to the State to punish WM.
It's time to make Washington a Right to Work State and we won't have the unions holding business and the customer hostage any longer.
Â
Something stink here, and it ain't the garbage. Who is on this commission? A DState controlled by democrats, commission members appointed by democrats? DState politicians dependent on vote by union members who are predominantly democrat?
So they expected WM to throw untrained collectors out on the street? Takes a bit to teach replacements, does it not? According to those "highly educated" drivers, and how hard it is...must take weeks to get up to speed.
If the 174-ers who HAD a contract, and made the choice to "honor" the 117-ers had not walked out, there would not have been such a problem with the garbage piling up. I blame WM for letting that provision in the contract go through.
Spread the wealth...Fine the mighty teamsters 174 as well as WM if you go that route.
@Sydthepiper Have you ever got your hands dirty working a job?
 @SunLover  @Sydthepiper ....more than you'll ever know...been working since age 10....not only dirty, but plenty of scars as well.
I hear some people are throwing their garbage in spare rooms. Thats crazy.  WM should not use bad drivers. Lets hope they are using good drivers again. Â
@Granny_MAC Good union drivers.
 @SunLover As long as they are legal workers that were working there before and continue to be safe. I'm not stupid like some folks who think anyone can drive a truck. I know it hard work and that you have to have a perfect record even while off work. I sure as heck don't want to be hit by a truck as they weigh many tons.Â
I'd like to see a state investigation into the Carpenters Union for harassing students at UW over use of non union labor because that was what they could afford at their off campus, private property. Then I will take all this "state investigating" seriously.Â
 @citizen#3457899654:Â
Without providing details (nnothing resembling your remark has been in the news), you have the wrong thread & are off topic.
 @Citizen#3457899654 Spoken like a management scab.
 @Glassman ...spoken like a member of the Borg.
I hope the fines go into the millions. I hated it when WM drove out the local owners with their corporate greed and pushy ways, but the prospect of paying for something I am not getting made me so angry that I cancelled my service and have no plans of renewing.
Â
If I had any say, I would have my representative put through a bill that would require a double refund for every pickup that is missed.
When I lived in Vanc. WA I was not allowed to cancel service with Waste Management unless I provided them with a new address for service. Even though I lived within blocks of the transfer station. I solved that by moving to an area not served by them, but I still had to provide proof I was moving!
And, btw to all you union haters, it isn't the union that dictates Waste Management's policies and rates - it's the corparate board.
 @Glassman ...let's see, the drive for greed & being pushy...hmmmmm...yep, the Websters definition of a Teamster, by gosh.
@Sydthepiper @Glassman As you see it.