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Trash worker strike ends
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Related Topics: WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - About 100 trash collectors for the District and Prince George’s County returned to work Monday, ending their two-week strike against Waste Management Inc.
Work resumed after the firm and the collectors union reached agreement on wages and proposed changes to the workers’ pension plan.
Waste Management has service contracts with several towns in Prince George’s County and apartment complexes in the District, as well as large chain grocery stores and other businesses in both jurisdictions.
About 100 employees of the Temple Hills-based firm had been working without a contract since November. When the workers went on strike, union officials and Waste Management had been at an impasse over the company’s attempts to reduce some workers’ wages and switch from a pension plan to a 401(k), union officials said.
The 401(k) would not have included an employer contribution as the pension plan does.
Waste Management and union officials eventually agreed to retention of the pension plan and modest pay increases, said Leigh Strope, a spokeswoman for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
Waste Management spokeswoman Lisa Kardell said that to retain the pension, union officials agreed to a freeze on the employer contribution at the current rate for two years and to forgo any wage increases for one year.
Union members ratified the three-year contract Saturday, Strope said.
More than 100 Waste Management workers in New York remained on strike Monday.
abailey@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
2:13 PM MST on Thu., May. 10, 2007 re: "County workers union rejects pension changes"
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5:24 AM MST on Wed., May. 9, 2007
re: "County workers union rejects pension changes"
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6:36 AM MST on Fri., May. 4, 2007
re: "Union rejects health care offer"
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Examiner Reader said:
I am not sure where Ms. Malarkey is getting her information from, There is no "Law requiring governments to prefund retirement benefits." There is however GASB which is an accounting standard that has governments accounting for and paying for other post employment benefits, ie. health care, so they will be able to maintain their AAA bond ratings. Within GASB there is no mention of pensions. I sure do wish that reporters would verify their facts prior to printing such information. It should also be noted that this article depicts the union memebers in a positive light, which is good, but recent artcles about the BCFPE appeared to show the union as the "BAD GUYS". Thank you Ms. Malarkey for your true and honest information. Not.
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Examiner Reader said:
finaly, a union that has sence to protect their members rather than line the pockets of a few. Thank You ASCME How many of the members of the other Unions voted to ratify because they were strong armed . Every employee out there should be writing to their Councilman right now and letting them know how this retirement proposal affects their family .and demand that the portion affecting prior and existing employees be removed..not approved, whether you voted to ratify or not.
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Examiner Reader said:
I am a little confused by Johnny Olzewski's comment --- The future action hings on the FPE vote? There are 6 unions in Baltimore County, why does the future of all employees depend on this one vote? The contract was ratified by a vote of 152 to 146! Since the majority of the members (corrections and 911) were given a two step upgrade, those numbers say a lot. 146 people were willing to give up the upgrades to protect their benefits. And what about the other 1300 employees represented by this union, many who are on the low end of the pay scale and can not afford to join for the right to vote. These changes affect them also. Remember councilman, you are in an elected position. These are not just employees, they are tax payers!
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