Local garbage haulers approve strike authorization

Unionized garbage haulers in King and Snohomish counties voted Sunday to give their top negotiator the authority to call a strike if a contract dispute cannot be settled by Thursday.

The authorization means a strike could begin as soon as midnight Wednesday, when contracts covering garbage haulers for more than 1 million local homes and businesses expire.

Waste Management and Allied Waste have been at the bargaining table with Teamsters Local 174, which represents more than 500 workers at the companies. Contract talks are ongoing.

"We do not believe a strike would be good for the Local or members of the community," said Local 174 spokesman Michael Gonzales. "But at this point, it seems to be where the companies are pushing us."

If Local 174 strikes, so would about 300 members of Teamsters Local 117, which won't cross the picket line. Generally speaking, Local 174 drivers pick up garbage, while Local 117 drivers haul yard waste and recycling.

Waste Management and Allied Waste say they'll continue service if a strike is called.

"We're committed to hammering out an agreement," Waste Management spokeswoman Jackie Lang said of the contract talks. "In the meantime, we are working on the details of our contingency plan to take care of our customers. We have an opportunity to call in a large and highly trained group of waste-management professionals to help."

A strike would affect about half the homes in Seattle — those that are served by Waste Management. The company also serves unincorporated King and Snohomish counties, and the cities of Auburn, Bothell, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, Newcastle, Maple Valley, Renton, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Carnation, Duvall, Mill Creek, Monroe, Arlington, Marysville, Granite Falls and Darrington.

Allied Waste serves about 100,000 homes and 8,000 commercial customers in King County.

A federal mediator has been called in to help with the negotiations Monday through Wednesday.

The Teamsters want assurances that their wages won't be cut to make up for shortages in their pension funds, Gonzales said. "I have seen language on the table from both companies we can't agree to — language that allows them to cut our wages in unlimited fashion," he said.

Lang said Waste Management's proposal does not include wage cuts and is worth more than $100,000 annually in pay and benefits for the average worker. "We think the union's demand is unrealistic given the economy," she said.

Information from Seattle Times archives was included in this story.

Amy Martinez: 206-464-2923 or amartinez@seattletimes.com