Strike Update 3: No Residential Waste Service Friday, No Talks Scheduled

No residential waste collection will occur in Kirkland on Friday as a proposal to resume bargaining in the dispute between striking recycle and yard waste truck drivers and appeared to hit a stalemate.

The city of Kirkland advised residents with Friday collection service to pull in their waste containers. Waste Management is bringing in drivers from other parts of the country as substitutes for the and plans on providing service first to facilities critical to public health, such as hospitals, nursing homes and daycare providers.

Waste Management garbage truck drivers, members of the separate Teamsters Local 174, are honoring Local 117’s picket lines, so no refuse collection is being provided Friday as well. Waste Management plans on doubling up on residential collection next week.

A proposal relayed through a federal mediator Thursday for the two sides to resume bargaining on Saturday appeared Friday to have hit a dead-end. The company wants the drivers to return to work first. Local 117, on the other hand, said if the company agrees to meet and bargain in good faith on Saturday it would pull the pickets on Monday.

“There are no scheduled talks,” said Robin Freedman, spokeswoman for Waste Management, which maintains its and contracts with the city for collection.

“This is a very frustrating situation. Cities will impose fines (on Waste Management) at some point next week. We want our drivers to come back so we can return to the bargaining table, and we want them to show good faith by coming back first.”

Brenda Wiest, spokeswoman for Local 117, said by imposing conditions on a resumption in bargaining, the company is showing a lack of good faith itself. She said the fact that the company was bringing in workers from other areas demonstrated that.

“It is a shame Waste Management would rather spend money for out-of-state workers and their lodging when we have a professional workforce already here, and that they’d rather pay fines than return to the bargaining table,” she said.

Wiest also denied charges that Local 117 leaders would not allow members to vote on . “We already put their offer to our members, side by side with other contracts in the industry. Our members didn’t want to vote on it. They voted with their boots on the street.”

John MacGillivray, the city of Kirkland’s solid waste program lead, said Waste Management is subject to penalties if it fails to provide service as specified in its contract with the city for more than seven days.

“As per our contract, we have what are called liquidated damages or performance fees,” he said. “We can apply those or decide not to. The bottom line is, we want service to our customers.”

The city, company and union are encouraging Waste Management customers to keep up-to-date on the dispute and collection plans. You can visit the company website at www.wmnorthwest.com/servicedelays. Questions or concerns should be directed to WMI at 1-800-592-9995 or pnwrsservices@wm.com. The union is maintaining a website as well, www.seattletrashwatch.org.

For all of Kirkland Patch's continuing coverage of the dispute, click here.