Replacements to haul garbage if drivers strike

The region's two largest garbage haulers are prepared to hire replacement workers if drivers go on strike, but residential service could be disrupted for weeks, King County Solid Waste Director Theresa Jennings said Tuesday.

Jennings told the County Council's Labor, Operations and Technology Committee that Allied Waste and Waste Management plan to continue running as many garbage routes as possible using managers and certified drivers from other states.

However, if there is a lengthy strike, collections likely would not be back to normal for five to six weeks, she said.

Garbage might be collected from some homes in the first week of a strike, while others could be delayed by three weeks, she said.

About 600 Teamsters Local 174 members are threatening to walk off their jobs if they don't reach an agreement with the haulers before their contract expires Friday night. The Teamsters collect waste from the homes of nearly 2 million residents of King and Snohomish counties.

Under contingency plans of the haulers and public-health officials, residential customers would receive the lowest priority for pickup, behind hospitals and nursing homes, food processors, restaurants and other commercial establishments, and apartments and condominiums, said King County public-health chief Greg Kipp.

Kathi Oglesby, County Executive Ron Sims' labor liaison, said the haulers and the union are working hard to reach an agreement. Although the current six-year contract expires at midnight Friday, she said union officials have assured the county they won't immediately call a strike.

"They will stay at the table as long as it takes to get an agreement," Oglesby said.

Keith Ervin: 206-464-2105 or kervin@seattletimes.com