Alameda county sanitation workers are still locked out of their jobs after three weeks. Contract negotiations continue between garbage giant, Waste Management Inc., and the workers’ representative, Teamsters Local 70.
Waste Management has repeated its false line that it locked out the sanitation workers because it was sure a strike
|
At the heart of the lockout iss Waste Management’s desire to take away the union’s right to strike in solidarity with other workers’ struggles. The company has waged union busting campaigns in other areas of the country; Teamsters Local 70 was simply the next target in its crosshairs.
Due to the impact of the lockout, the struggle has seen much coverage in local media outlets, as well as in other areas where Waste Management carries out garbage collection like Los Angeles.
Much of this has been fairly honest about the workers’ struggle. But some media have repeated Waste Management’s lies.
The lockout has affected not only the workers, but the areas they serve.
Rotting trash continues to pile up in the following East Bay communities: Albany, Emeryville, Oakland, Hayward, Newark, Livermore, the Castro Valley Sanitary District, Oro Loma Sanitary District in parts of San Leandro and San Lorenzo, San Ramon and unincorporated Alameda County.
In addition, Waste Management “replacement workers”—scabs—have endangered many East Bay residents by their inexperience. Most affected have been working-class areas.
The scabs have committed multiple safety violations on a regular basis. Union members have called out myriad safety violations while watching the sanitation trucks roll out of Waste Management’s headquarters.
Local government has stepped into the labor dispute. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors, San Leandro Mayor Tony Santos, and other local government officials from Hayward and Berkeley have spoken publicly against the lockout.
On July 12, the city of Oakland filed suit in Alameda County Superior Court, calling on Waste Management to honor their contract by picking up all of the trash. The city prevailed and received a temporary restraining order against the sanitation company last week.
On July 24, Alameda County Superior Court Judge Richard Keller decided that the court would hold a contempt-of-court hearing on allegations against Waste Management for not complying with the order.
The hearing is scheduled for Aug. 3—the same day the City of Oakland and Waste Management are set to meet in court over a request for a permanent restraining order to force the garbage company to collect trash in Oakland.
If found in contempt, Waste Management could face fines up to $2,500 for every missed collection beyond that allowed in the contract—the contract allows an error rate of 20 missed collections per day in Oakland.
Oakland city officials told the San Jose Mercury News that they have received more than 1,100 complaints since last week’s court order, and more than 3,000 since the lockout began.
Right after the judge’s July 24 announcement, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums said that Waste Management and the union had reached agreements on some outstanding issues. The pressure is mounting on Waste Management each day.
Despite the aggressive company lockout, Teamster sanitation workers are standing up and fighting back with dignity. Picket lines continue seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
