Politics & Government

State Recommends $2.1 Million Fine Against Waste Management Over Strike

State regulators say the company violated law by missing collections in unincorporated areas of King, Snohomish and Skagit counties, disproportionately allocating replacement driver to cities with separate contracts.

 

State regulators are recommending a fine of $2.14 million against Waste Management for missing garbage and recycle collections during last year’s eight-day strike by some of the company drivers.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) staff last week recommended the penalties against Waste Management for “violating state law when the company failed to provide scheduled trash service to more than 135,000 customers in commission-regulated areas of King and Snohomish counties,” according to a press release by the agency.

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The commission has jurisdiction over Waste Management only for waste collection in unincorporated areas of Snohomish, Skagit and King counties. Many cities, including Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Issaquah, Sammamish, and Renton, are not regulated by the WUTC and have separate contracts with the company.

WUTC investigators found Waste Management failed to hire enough replacement drivers to maintain service in accordance with its service conditions, and disproportionately allocated drivers to cities with which it contracts.

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Commission investigators estimated the utility missed 208,567 pickups during the strike, which, according to the staff, violates the company’s tariff filed with the state. The commission also received 136 consumer complaints.

The strike last summer came during a contract dispute between the company and its yard waste and recycle truck drivers, members of Teamsters Local 117.

Waste Management has 20 days to respond, after which the three-member Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission will schedule a hearing. The commission is not bound by staff recommendations.

For the full press release from the Washington Utility and Transportation Commission, click here.


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