West Side trash workers strike

Sun., Sept. 10, 2006

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

SEATTLE – Contract talks between garbage truck mechanics and Waste Management Inc. are set to resume today, but union members already on strike in parts of King and Snohomish counties are threatening to extend the walkout to other cities.

About 45 mechanics whose contract expired Dec. 31 stopped garbage service Friday for about 170,000 households from Redmond to Shoreline and from Mill Creek to Arlington. They were joined by their fellow truck drivers.

Workers are unhappy with the lack of progress in negotiations. A key issue has been a company demand for the mechanics to begin paying for their medical benefits at an average of $130 a month for an employee and $285 a month for family coverage.

Houston-based Waste Management prepared to bring in substitute drivers from other parts of Washington and Oregon. Teamsters Local 174 threatened to extend the strike Monday to other King County cities, including the northern half of Seattle, as well as Renton and Federal Way.

“Before all is said and done, unless the company comes to its senses, we could see a million people affected by a strike,” said Dan Scott, secretary-treasurer of the union.

King County Executive Ron Sims welcomed today’s planned talks.

“We are supportive of efforts by the mediator to get all parties working toward a solution. Resolution will come at the bargaining table, so we are encouraged they will be returning to the table,” Sims said.

On Friday, a small group of Waste Management supervisors collected waste from the highest-priority customers such as restaurants, hospitals and nursing homes.

Waste Management planned to bring in more supervisors with commercial driver’s licenses to pick up nonresidential waste, said Jerry Hardebeck, the company’s director of public-sector services.

Residential customers were advised to put garbage out as usual.

Hardebeck said the company’s latest offer would increase mechanics’ pay from $24 an hour to $26 and give an overall boost of 6.8 percent in pay and benefits.

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