LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Collecting Garbage
Oakland, CA: (Mar-10-08) The city of Oakland brought a lawsuit against Waste Management of Alameda County, CA alleging that the city was owed money for disrupted service due to a worker lockout in the summer of 2007. Records show that Waste Management locked out about 500 collection and long-haul drivers represented by International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 70, after three months of contract talks proved unfruitful in July 2007.
The lockout led to the stopping of much of the solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal services for both residential and commercial customers in Oakland and other East Bay cities. Waste Management said it locked out its garbage truck drivers because it feared the union would go on strike, but the union said it didn't have any plans to go on strike. The city then won a legal decree, when a judge issued an injunction to the garbage collection company, ordering it to fulfill its contract with the city and provide complete collection services for garbage, refuse and recycling materials. The company then brought in replacement workers to collect garbage in the communities it serves in the East Bay.
On July 28, Teamsters workers voted 633-3 to approve a new five-year contract that Waste Management and the union had agreed during a mediation session. As part of a settlement reached in the case, sources stated that the garbage agency agreed to pay the city a total of $7.89 million for disrupted services. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums said that the package includes $4.86 million worth of services for Oakland residents who faced inconveniences due to the lockout. The total also includes $3.03 million in rebates, which were paid to Oakland customers in 2007. Sources at the Oakland Public Works Agency said the settlement calls for augmenting the city's illegal dumping collection program and having amnesty collection days for large items such as tires, appliances and mattresses. Additionally, recycling efforts will be enhanced to improve the company's efficiency. [KVTU NEWS: WASTE MANAGEMENT TO PAY $7.89 M SETTLEMENT FOR STRIKE DISRUPTION]
Published on Mar-12-08
The lockout led to the stopping of much of the solid waste collection, recycling, and disposal services for both residential and commercial customers in Oakland and other East Bay cities. Waste Management said it locked out its garbage truck drivers because it feared the union would go on strike, but the union said it didn't have any plans to go on strike. The city then won a legal decree, when a judge issued an injunction to the garbage collection company, ordering it to fulfill its contract with the city and provide complete collection services for garbage, refuse and recycling materials. The company then brought in replacement workers to collect garbage in the communities it serves in the East Bay.
On July 28, Teamsters workers voted 633-3 to approve a new five-year contract that Waste Management and the union had agreed during a mediation session. As part of a settlement reached in the case, sources stated that the garbage agency agreed to pay the city a total of $7.89 million for disrupted services. Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums said that the package includes $4.86 million worth of services for Oakland residents who faced inconveniences due to the lockout. The total also includes $3.03 million in rebates, which were paid to Oakland customers in 2007. Sources at the Oakland Public Works Agency said the settlement calls for augmenting the city's illegal dumping collection program and having amnesty collection days for large items such as tires, appliances and mattresses. Additionally, recycling efforts will be enhanced to improve the company's efficiency. [
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