Press Releases

CASTROVILLE, Calif. - Several important issues have been misrepresented during the Sept. 6, 2002 garbage drivers strike. Waste Management would like to provide the following facts:

• Waste Management has not refused to negotiate. On Wednesday, Sept. 4, Local 3 left the bargaining table after agreeing to continue negotiations. On Friday, Sept. 6 they showed up at the front gate with picket signs.

• Driver wages are not substandard. Annual salary for roll-off drivers last year was averaged $56,000 and residential commercial drivers averaged $46,000.

• The claim that Waste Management pays $12 per hour and that drivers do not receive annual cost-of-living adjustments is false. Roll-off drivers earn $18.52 per hour and residential and commercial drivers earn $17.51 per hour. Drivers received cost-of-living adjustments in accordance with the All-Urban Consumers San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose Wage Earners Index every year. Their adjustment is scheduled in April. This year's adjustment has been pending the outcome of Union negotiations.

• The claim that Waste Management is practicing unfair labor practices and not negotiating in good faith is false. Waste Management has never left the negotiating table even though the Union continues to demand a one-year wage and benefit increase of 28 percent.

• The Union has stated that garbage drivers elsewhere in the Bay Area receive much high wages. This statement must be put into context. Wages for most workers are much higher in the Bay Area. When the County of Santa Cruz issued their request for new services in 1997, they established a prevailing wage that Waste Management was to pay, including medical benefits and annual adjustments.

Waste Management is making every effort to provide service at this time and apologizes for this delay. Commercial and roll-off service will be picked up as usual. Residential pick-ups from Friday, Sept. 6 will be picked up throughout this week. Remote areas are being asked to double up this week. Any extras will be picked up as well.

Waste Management asks that customers leave the carts at the curbside.