Agreement reached on garbage contract

Wednesday, May 3, 2006

By BRAD WONG
P-I REPORTER

Allied Waste and its unionized garbage drivers reached a tentative agreement Tuesday night on a new four-year contract, but members still need to ratify it, a Teamsters spokesman said.

"I would keep an eye on the upcoming vote," said Dan Scott, secretary-treasurer for Teamsters Local 174. "This isn't quite over yet."

Both sides, he said, have agreed not to discuss the agreement's specific details until the approximately 300 union drivers for Allied Waste vote in the coming days and possibly this weekend.

A simple majority is needed to approve the agreement. On Saturday, members rejected an earlier contract agreement, said Scott.

"It's been a long road and we're pleased that we reached this agreement," said Nels Johnson, a spokesman for Allied Waste. "We believe it's a fair and reasonable agreement, which was our objective from the beginning."

Scott said the union examined some "tough issues," including seniority and attendance policy. He said drivers were seeking relief from health insurance costs and were concerned about worker safety.

He said mandatory overtime, which he has described as "forced" and "excessive," also remains an issue for his members. Drivers have been working under a contract that expired March 31.

Allied Waste's unionized drivers cover Seattle, Bellevue and Kent, Scott said. He estimates they serve about 1 million customers.

He declined to say whether an hourly wage increase is part of the new tentative agreement.

In recent days, Waste Management, which also hauls garbage in King County, reached a tentative agreement with its approximately 300 unionized drivers.

P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.

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