Company Refuses to Preserve Labor Peace During Contract Negotiations

Originally posted at www.teamster.org on July 2, 2007

Labor relations between Local 70 and Waste Management Incorporated (WMI) [NYSE: WMI] took a drastic turn for the worse July 2, when the solid waste giant locked out 500 Oakland-area workers, despite a public pledge by the union to not strike and continue good-faith negotiations even after the contract expired on June 30.

With this decision, WMI has shown its true colors. After stating that it only wanted to maintain labor peace with the Teamsters Union, the company jumped at the first opportunity to turn the situation into a labor dispute.

“This is a truly disappointing development,” said Chuck Mack, Secretary-Treasurer of  Local 70 in Oakland. “After all its rhetoric about its desire to maintain labor peace, Waste Management has turned around and done something which, at best, can be viewed as hypocritical. How can our union bargain with a company that doesn’t even adhere to its own promises?”

In its letter to the union confirming a lockout dated July 2, labor counsel for Waste Management Barbara Russell stated that the lockout was enacted to “expedite the negotiation of an overall agreement”.

“I am sure that all the citizens of the East Bay area will be thrilled that Waste Management has decided to effectively pull service until a labor agreement is reached,” Mack said. “Our union was committed to continuing to provide the same quality service until this was resolved. Waste Management has put an end to any chance of that now.”

Just days prior to WMI’s lockout, Local 70 had pledged to not exercise its right to strike, despite the contract’s expiration deadline passing at midnight June 30. The union believed it was not only in the best interest of the two parties involved, but the citizens, the workers and company service to maintain labor peace during negotiations.

“You really have to question Waste Management’s commitment to this market if they are willing to abandon peaceful negotiations and instigate a labor dispute that will impact locations far beyond just the Bay Area,” Mack said.

Labor officials from the Alameda County Labor Council, Machinists Local Lodge 1546, Teamsters  Locals 396, 315 and 439 and Warehouse Union Local 6, International Longshore and Warehouse Union have all pledged their support for Teamsters Local 70 if the members are locked out by Waste Management.  

In a transparent effort to give the company some reason for the lockout, attorneys for WMI filed unfair labor practice charges against Local 70 on July 2, claiming the union has not bargained in good faith.

“The charges are completely ridiculous,” Mack said. “Waste Management is the one that continues to enter negotiations with blinders on. This company is building a history of breaking promises with our union.”

In a letter dated July 17, 2001, WMI promised Local 70 that it would make no attempts to seek concessions from the 500 workers represented by the union in future negotiations. Despite this very clear and indisputable promise, the company has done nothing but make demands for takeaways in every negotiation session to date.

Local 70 represents 500 workers at Livermore, 98th Ave, Davis St. yards and Altamont and Tri-City landfills. Machinists Local Lodge 1546 represents 80 mechanics at the same locations.