By Michael Burke
Journal Times | Posted: Thursday, September 18, 2008 12:00 am
RACINE COUNTY - The garbage strike that has hit six counties could end Friday.
Members of Teamsters Local 200, the striking trash haulers, will vote at 8 a.m. Friday on a new contract offer by Waste Management. A day of talks Thursday ended with that announcement by Houston-based Waste Management.
The company said its newest contract proposal "would boost worker wages and benefits" while replacing the Teamsters' failing Central States Pension Fund.
If approved, the five-year contract would take effect immediately, ending the 3 1/2-week-old strike that began Aug. 26.
There was no immediate statement from the Teamsters, and a spokesman could not be reached for comment.
Teamsters Local 200 represents about 240 truck drivers, equipment operators and mechanics employed at Waste Management's Milwaukee area operations. The company provides waste collection and recycling services for an estimated 102,500 homes and 16,330 businesses and institutions locally, and provides disposal services for waste that municipal crews and other companies collect from homes and facilities throughout the metropolitan area.
Waste Management representatives did not make public specifics of the proposal Thursday, pending the union's presentation of the proposal to its members and a ratification vote.
The company previously outlined its Sept. 10 contract offer, saying it would give pay hikes of 10 to 15 percent in the first year, and 3 percent in years two through five.
Waste Management said then it also would redirect its Central States' contributions to help pay for a new defined-contribution pension plan, wage increases, an enhanced health plan and other employee compensation.
In Racine County, Waste Management collects residential trash and/or recyclables from 13,600 residential and 1,900 commercial customers in Caledonia, Waterford and Union Grove.
The company also collects garbage in the Town of Somers.
The strike has forced Waste Management to use managers and drivers from elsewhere to collect trash and recyclables.