please explain: garbage strike

[amandasw]

I don't know anything about unions, but I was curious if anyone knows the following (because I don't feel like it's in the news):

1) why are they striking?

2) I thought when a union went on strike, the company would usually enter talks etc, but it sounds like they are just hiring new workers. why is it different this time?

[Deleted]

1. Striking beacuse the garbage guys make $9/hr more for the same exact job. It's only the recycling guys that are technically on strike, the garbage guys are striking in solidarity.

2. They did bring in out of state workers, they way I understand it it's not enough and the striking WA workers are blocking their trucks and making it a general PITA for the out of state workers to do anything.

[FrozenSunshine]

They've been working without a contact since May.

It is about money. There is about a $9 dollar pay difference between yard waste pickup drivers and garage haulers.

They are bringing in outside help as of today, because this is the one week mark. Anything past one week and the company can be charged fines.

[amandasw]

Aug 1, 2012 13:26:09 GMT -5 spunbutterfly said:

And they aren't hiring new workers per se. They're bringing in out of state workers to cover 'necessary' garbage pick ups like hospitals and schools I think.

well, last night on the news they said they were going to start hiring full time people and taking applications etc. If the workers came back they would be ok, but if they didn't, they were out a job. I guess I always thought companies weren't allowed to do that or something - like, what's the point of a union then?

(again, not a history/government major, clearly!)

[niq]

(1) There are two Teamster's locals. The one that most of the garbage truck drivers working for Seattle/WM work for earn $9/hr less. CBS story

(2) When Boeing workers go on strike, finding people who know how to build airplanes is hard. Finding construction workers who can build high-rises isn't quite as hard, but still not exactly easy. Finding people who can drive garbage trucks and empty garbage cans is much easier. Congress has attempted to ban permanent (or temporary) strike replacement workers but it hasn't ever passed.

[FrozenSunshine]

Here was a pretty easy to follow article from this morning.

www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/trash-piles-up-as-strike-drags-on-in-seattle-area-waste-management-hiring-replacement-drivers/2012/08/01/gJQAeQ1bPX_story.html

[amandasw]

ah - I see, the $9 thing.

[amandasw]

Aug 1, 2012 13:29:10 GMT -5 niq said:

(2) When Boeing workers go on strike, finding people who know how to build airplanes is hard. Finding construction workers who can build high-rises isn't quite as hard, but still not exactly easy. Finding people who can drive garbage trucks and empty garbage cans is much easier. Congress has attempted to ban permanent (or temporary) strike replacement workers but it hasn't ever passed.

OH. duh. that makes sense

[tacocat]

I am so torn on this issue. I don't think it is fair that the garbage workers meek $9/hr more but I wonder about unions these days. It seems like too much big business and not about protecting employees. I also struggle to get behind the idea of striking and holding people hostage to get what you want.


Pick up my damn garbage!!

[tacocat]

Oh, and think of my bro and SIL: two weeks work of twin baby diapers

[jennlin]

Aug 1, 2012 14:17:41 GMT -5 tacocat said:

I am so torn on this issue. I don't think it is fair that the garbage workers meek $9/hr more but I wonder about unions these days. It seems like too much big business and not about protecting employees. I also struggle to get behind the idea of striking and holding people hostage to get what you want.


Pick up my damn garbage!!

i haven't read the articles posted, or been following too much, but i know about the $9 thing...

they say the theory is there's more hazards when emptying garbage than when emptying yardwaste/recycle, whatever. and it's true. and i agree with that. somebody who washes windows on the 100th floor, deserves more pay than someone washing windows on the 2nd floor.

$9 is a pretty big difference, though.