March 29, 2010

NW10-010

To: NW SPEEA Council

From: Joel Funfar (P2), Joe Asaif (P2)

Subject: PRE-SUBMITTED NEW BUSINESS: Support of Teamsters Locals 174 & 117 in Negotiation with RSG (Republic Services) and WMI (Waste Management).

Background

SPEEA has been supported by Teamsters Locals 174 & 117 during our strike in 2000. Local 174 are a member of Coalition of Labor Union at Boeing (CLUB). They have always been supportive of SPEEA IFPTE Local 2001 when ever asked.

The workers at Allied Waste, nationally known as Republic Services (RSG), and Waste Management (WMI) are raising awareness in the community about the their companies’ attempts to squeeze workers during contract negotiations with Teamsters Local 174 and Local 117 in Tukwila, Wash.

Both WMI and RSG enjoy healthy profit margins thanks to the hard work of their employees, but have made unreasonable demands at the bargaining table. WMI has demanded that the contract include language that would allow the company to make unspecified wage cuts at any time. Republic has made a similar demand for workers to accept unlimited pay cuts to fund their own retirement.

Workers at WMI have also reported to Local 174 that the company has been consistently shorting their paychecks.

"I don't think it’s too much to ask an $11 billion corporation to stop shorting our paychecks, to put a little extra money into safety devices that protect us and the public and to stop retaliating against workers that get injured on the job," said Jeff Anderson a 27-year roll-off driver at WMI.

WMI, which is the largest trash collection and disposal company in the U.S., also refuses to put an end to workplace harassment and change safety practices that push workers to cover up public safety hazards and workplace accidents.

"We are doing everything we can to negotiate a fair settlement," said Rick Hicks, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 174. "But we will not compromise over our members' safety."

Waste collection and disposal ranks as the fifth most dangerous job in the U.S. and sanitation workers are more likely to die on the job than firefighters or police officers.

"These workers put their bodies on the line everyday to protect the public health," said Tracey Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 117. "All we are asking is that these companies put safety before profits and that they take care of these workers after they've spent a lifetime sacrificing their health and their bodies to protect the public."

Teamster Locals 117 and 174 represent more than 700 sanitation workers at WMI and Allied Waste across King County. The Teamsters Union represents more than 32,000 sanitation workers nationwide with 7,000 members at WMI and 8,000 at Allied Waste/Republic Services.

For more information, contact Paul Zilly of Teamsters Local 117 at 206-794-6673 or Michael Gonzales of Teamsters Local 174 at 206-852-8986.

Motion

It is moved that the NW SPEEA Council supports Teamsters locals 174 and 117 in their struggle in negotiations with Waste Management (WMI) & Republic Services (RSG).

It is also moved that the Northwest Council supports giving up to $3000.00 if a strike happens and support is needed.

The NW council requests the SPEEA E Board to contact Teamsters Locals 174 and 117 if a strike occurs, and help is needed, to work with the Teamsters on how to provide the support.