Despite the possibility of a garbage strike by Thursday, the city wants you to go ahead and put out your trash, recycling and yard waste as usual.
In a release Tuesday afternoon, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) asked customers to observe their regular pickup days. If there’s no pickup, leave it out an extra day, Andy Ryan with SPU says. If it’s still not collected that next day, put it out the following week on your regular day.
The dispute is between Teamsters Local 174 and Waste Management, the company that provides pickup service for about half of Seattle, including Ballard and Crown Hill. A map of Waste Management’s service area is here.
Over the weekend the drivers voted to authorize a strike if they don’t have a new contract by Thursday. The current contract expires at midnight Wednesday.
The city’s contract with Waste Management requires continuation of services, and the company has announced it is lining up replacement drivers.
If you’re wondering what to expect if the union does strike, the Seattle Times has a write-up about how it could affect you.
How hard is it to replace garbagemen?
THese guys make an average of $70K a year! Replace them.
their pay should be pegged to K-12 teachers, one dollar a year more on average just to keep the teachers on their toes.
Great time to strike during a down economy. I usually support the Union but what they did to Boeing and now threatening a strike for workers that already are getting good wages and benefits makes no sense and undermines the organization.
I think teachers should make more!
After reading about the pay package these people are getting, I now understand why my bills are so high every month. Good grief!
okay I'll meet you at teachers make 50 cents less per year. Final offer. If you don't like it you'll need to strike.
And who goes on garbage strike in April in Seattle? My trash won't start to stink until July. August is the month for a garbage strike …
70,000 a year?? How does one go about working for this mafia family?