Vol. 71/No. 30      August 20, 2007

Nearly 500 workers, members of Teamsters Local 70, were locked out after their contract expired on June 30. They were replaced by strikebreakers, many drafted from the company’s nonunion operations in other states.

Waste Management demanded sweeping changes in the contract. They tried to restrict the union’s ability to defend workers charged with “unsafe” practices, end the union’s right to honor strike picket lines, and impose higher payments for medical care.

In the new five-year contract, the union maintains the right to honor union picket lines, the company continues to cover health premiums, and there is a pay raise. But the company imposed new penalties for violations of safety rules. And a “no strike, no lockout” provision was added to the contract for the first time.

Waste Management officials carried out a slander campaign during the lockout, charging drivers with having the worst safety record in the country.

Picketing Teamster Sergio Torres, a driver for 20 years, told the Militant that the “safety issue” is being used by the company to make it easier to fire workers they want to get rid of, such as older drivers with high seniority. Torres said the bosses have cut the number of workers assigned to each truck. Where there once was three and even four, now there is only one.

“We are out there by ourselves, often in narrow streets, backing up, with no one to spot us. At the same time they are giving us longer routes,” Torres said. “This company does not care about safety!”

The locked-out Teamsters were joined by other union workers at Waste Management on the picket lines and union rallies. Mechanics belonging to the Machinists union and recyclers, members of the Longshoremen’s union, honored the Teamsters picket lines.

Oakland mayor Ronald Dellums participated in the negotiations along with a federal mediator.  
 
 
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