Trash Truck Drivers Strike
Waste Management drivers represented by Local 200 of the Teamsters walked off the job this morning in a contract dispute, union officials said.
Bill Plunket, a Waste Management spokesman, said company and union negotiators were at a bargaining session at a suburban hotel when the Teamsters walked out and went on strike.
“We are disappointed the union has walked away from the bargaining table,” Plunket said.
[...]
Plunket said the company expected there would be some delays in trash pickup, but added that regular service would be restored by the end of the week.
He said drivers would emphasize trash pickup at essential businesses like hospitals and restaurants. Additionally, Waste Management will pay particular attention to Harley-Davidson reunion sites where large crowds may gather.
Strikes drive me nuts. Management has no recourse or comparable tactic available to them. If the workers want to get together and walk off the job as a bargaining tactic, that’s fine. Have at it. But management should have the discretion to fire them and hire replacements. If management thinks that the cost of hiring and training new workers is more expensive in both dollars and lost productivity than coming to agreement with the workers, then fine. If management thinks that hiring and training replacements is a better option, that’s fine too. But the law is set up so that union workers can strike whenever they want and they face no cost for that other than lost wages. It’s an unbalanced legal framework.
I agree that the employer should have the right to hire permanent replacement worker. This State should also provide right to work laws for those employee who do not wish to strike and mandate secret ballets on the strike vote.
A former Union Member that lost his job due to roll call voice vote.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 26, 2008 at 1228 hrs
I think you make a fair point. But in a larger context, who really has the power? Have wages been climbing and profits dwindling?
Posted by scott on August 26, 2008 at 1231 hrs
Just a quick point of clarification: employers do have a comparable tactic available to them. They can lock out the employees if contract with the union has expired.
As for my own opinion, the unions’ time has passed. If workers think they can do better, they should go elsewhere. Similarly, if employers can hire someone to do the job cheaper, they do that. It’s the essence of the free market - a day’s pay for a day’s work - plain & simple.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 26, 2008 at 1242 hrs
As for my own opinion, the unions’ time has passed. If workers think they can do better, they should go elsewhere. Similarly, if employers can hire someone to do the job cheaper, they do that. It’s the essence of the free market - a day’s pay for a day’s work - plain & simple.
Whereas I see the movement to a service based economy as the foundation for a resurgence of unions. With more and more people working in retail and service industry jobs, and those jobs failing to provide wages and benefits that support families, the need for those working for the Wal-Marts, Cosco’s, Home Depots, Lowes, Kroger’s ect, to start a new wave of organizing is growing.
One only needs to look at the standards of living and per capita wages in states with strong labor rights laws as opposed to those in states without them to realize the benefits of organized labor.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 26, 2008 at 1251 hrs
Like Detroit!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 26, 2008 at 1319 hrs
As for my own opinion, the unions’ time has passed. If workers think they can do better, they should go elsewhere. Similarly, if employers can hire someone to do the job cheaper, they do that. It’s the essence of the free market - a day’s pay for a day’s work - plain & simple.
I agree.
Its laziness/complacency. And I don’t mean that in an pejorative way, but some people actively manage their “career” and some people don’t. Even factory workers or service workers. Some choose to look for new opportunities, test the value of their skillset and/or their work ethic on the open market and strive to set themselves apart.
Some people don’t think they should have to continue to seek out new jobs and test the open market and instead they try to leverage ways to not have to change and set limits to the amount of work they are willing to do, and unions are synonymous with that.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 26, 2008 at 1435 hrs
Am I the only one who noticed that the Teamsters decided to strike the day BEFORE the Harley Riders all hit town tomorrow?
A-HOLES!!!!!
And worse yet I bet by Tuesday they will have suddenly “come to an agreement”
Posted by Michael J. Cheaney on August 26, 2008 at 1917 hrs
Paul wins.
Posted by Benjamin on August 26, 2008 at 2109 hrs
Without the benefits won by unions, you have China.
Posted by capper on August 26, 2008 at 2128 hrs
Capper, that’ the stupidest thing you’ve ever said. China is one big hairy union.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 27, 2008 at 0809 hrs
Plus, as China has become less, uhm, uniony, the standard of living has gone way way up. China’s pro-market reforms have lifted hundreds of millions out of abject poverty.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 27, 2008 at 0814 hrs
China is one big hairy union? Sure it is, just like all the other authoritarian/totalitarian countries in the world.
Also, for all those who say if you don’t like it just get another job: it must be nice to live in a labor market where equal-paying jobs (with equal benefits) are so plentiful a person can just quit the job they have and go right out and find a new one with no problem.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 27, 2008 at 1508 hrs
Maybe I’m missing something, but with the number of people out of work and the relatively low skill level required - why doesn’t Waste Management just hire replacement people?
Come on - hand me a map of my route and spend an hour showing me how the truck works - and I’m on my way. This isn’t surgery we are talking about here. Perhaps the drivers need CDL’s - but you can still hire the helpers in a few days.
For the record my garbage was picked one day later (by WM) than normal. If the union thinks that WM is going to lose a lot of money with them on strike - they need to re-examine their position.
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 28, 2008 at 2020 hrs
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