Dive Summary:
- Waste Management announced that it would hire new drivers to permanently replace striking workers from Teamsters Local 117 in Seattle.
- Representatives from the Union claim that they are prepared for this contingency. The teamsters have filed a number of unlawful labor practices against the company. If they are upheld, the company will legally be prevented from making the hires.
- Meanwhile, the service disruption continues. In response, the city leaders have called on Waste Management to return to the bargaining table and have threatened hefty fines.
-
See previous coverage of the labor dispute here
From the article:
Waste Management announced today that it would begin hiring permanent replacement workers to take the jobs of striking recycle drivers while Seattle and Federal Way geared up to levy hefty fines against the company for any missed pickups.
Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn vowed to return those fines to customers in the form of lower bills, and, today, announced that Seattle residents will be allowed to dispose of up to six bags of garbage and yard waste at no cost at the city’s two transfer stations until further notice.
“We understand that this disruption of service has real consequences for businesses and people, so we will not be charging those who bring their waste to a transfer station,’’ McGinn said in a prepared statement.
Kirkland also was preparing contingency plans to create temporary collection sites across the city if service is not restored by Wednesday.